B111-0008
Understanding Gene Transfer Between DNA and RNA viruses Through the Lens of Crucivirus Evolution.
Understanding Gene Transfer Between DNA and RNA viruses Through the Lens of Crucivirus Evolution.
Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Poster
Abstract:
Viruses are ubiquitous life-forms whose origins remain obscure. Circular Rep-encoding single-stranded DNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses may have originated from bacterial and archaeal plasmids by acquiring capsid genes from RNA viruses. Cruciviruses –found in viromes from a wide variety of environments across the planet– are CRESS-DNA viruses that encode capsid genes clearly homologous to the capsids of RNA tombusviruses, posing the most explicit example of relatedness between DNA and RNA viruses.
Here, we characterize hundreds of cruciviral genomes, and attempt the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of this viral group. Our results suggest inter- and intragenic recombination between cruciviruses, recombination with other CRESS-DNA viruses, and multiple transfers of the capsid gene between cruciviruses and RNA viruses. We explore new hypotheses regarding this gene sharing, shedding light on virus origins and evolution.
Here, we characterize hundreds of cruciviral genomes, and attempt the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of this viral group. Our results suggest inter- and intragenic recombination between cruciviruses, recombination with other CRESS-DNA viruses, and multiple transfers of the capsid gene between cruciviruses and RNA viruses. We explore new hypotheses regarding this gene sharing, shedding light on virus origins and evolution.