An Uncultivated Virus Infecting a Nanoarchaeal Parasite in the Hot Springs of Yellowstone National Park

Researchers have identified the first virus, NAV1, to infect Nanoarchaeota—a symbiotic archaeal species found in acidic hot springs of Yellowstone National Park. This discovery is significant as it represents a virus infecting an obligate symbiont, which itself relies on another host for growth and replication. Using culture-independent techniques, the team sequenced the NAV1 genome and proposed its classification as the founding member of a new viral family, highlighting the genetic diversity of archaeal viruses. The study sheds light on complex microbial ecosystems in extreme environments like Yellowstone's hot springs.

Munson-McGee, J. H., Rooney, C., & Young, M. J. (2020). An Uncultivated Virus Infecting a Nanoarchaeal Parasite in the Hot Springs of Yellowstone National Park. Journal of Virology, 94(3). https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.01213-19