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Virophages and polintons are part of a complex system that also involves eukaryotes, giant viruses, as well as other viruses and transposable elements. Virophages are cosmopolitan, being found in environments ranging from the Amazon River to Antarctic hypersaline lakes, while polintons are found in many single celled and multicellular eukaryotes. Virophages and polintons have a shared ancestry, but their exact origins are unknown and obscured by antiquity and extensive horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Paleovirology can help disentangle the complicated gene flow between these two, as well as their giant viral and eukaryotic hosts. We outline the evidence and theoretical support for polintons being descended from viruses and not vice versa. In order to disentangle the natural history of polintons and virophages, we suggest that there is much to be gained by embracing rigorous metagenomics and evolutionary analyses. Methods from paleovirology will play a pivotal role in unravelling ancient relationships, HGT and patterns of cross-species transmission.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.coviro.2017.07.011

Type

Journal article

Journal

Curr Opin Virol

Publication Date

08/2017

Volume

25

Pages

59 - 65

Keywords

DNA Transposable Elements, DNA, Viral, Eukaryota, Evolution, Molecular, Gene Transfer, Horizontal, Genome, Viral, Giant Viruses, Phylogeny, Virophages, Virus Diseases