Seminar of the Department of Microbiology

Polintoviruses in aquatic ecosystems and eukaryotic genomes

Christopher Bellas - Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck

09.06.2022, 11:00 - Online & in presence - Join online - or in presence: Room 504 Seminarraum Biologie Foyer, Viktor-Franz-Hess Haus, ground floor (next to the aquarium)

Abstract

Polintons (also known as Mavericks) are large, virus-like, mobile genetic elements found in the genomes of some eukaryotic organisms. They encode virus capsid genes, however there is little information on their existence as extracellular virus particles, or their distribution and diversity. In this seminar, I will discuss the unexpected finding of abundant polinton-like viruses in alpine lakes and beyond, which belong to several large new groups of eukaryotic viruses. I will also discuss virus-host relationships, potential virus lifestyles and the implications to unicellular eukaryotes.