Mirusvirus: Virology’s Newest Oceanic Surprise
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A number of translucent zooplankton appear against a black background (tonaquatic/iStock)
Virology has been, for good reason, a prominent field of research in recent years, and this attention continues to allow scientists to uncover the elaborate evolutionary tapestries between the viral world and our own. An international research collaboration between several labs across Europe and Asia investigating ocean systems ecology and evolution were no exception, stumbling upon an entirely new plankton-infecting relative of herpesviruses, Mirusviricota. Previously, no relatives outside of the animal kingdom could be connected to Herpesvirales, nor was there a link between herpesviruses and giant eukaryotic viruses. This discovery tying a herpesvirus relative to a eukaryotic plankton host indicates an exciting, long-hidden association between the Herpesvirales order and ancient eukaryotes.
These surprising relatives to herpesviruses were determined to be one of the most active and abundant eukaryotic viruses included in their survey, which focused on characterizing the metagenome of sunlit oceans across the planet. Their prevalence signifies an importance for further research surrounding mirusviruses in fields including marine ecology and virology.
Mirusviruses may allow numerous questions about herpes simplex viruses to soon be answered – including those regarding their origin, infectivity, and transition to animal hosts – marking an exciting new chapter for research of this infectious disease. Progressing our understanding of HSVs could positively impact the over 3.7 billion people infected with HSV-1, and 491 million with HSV-2, the main causes of oral and genital herpes, respectively.
The mirusvirus name was inspired by the latin adjective mirus, meaning surprising or strange. The better we understand this novel phylum, the more fitting this name will likely be!
Author Bio:
Jane Arterberry is working on her undergraduate degree in biology with a chemistry minor at Portland State University Honors College. She is a member of PSU’s eXtreme Virus Lab, a BUILD EXITO trainee, and interested in genetics and molecular biology. Her favorite things include watching live music, petting everyone’s dogs, and making academia a more inclusive place.
