Acanthamoeba and mimivirus interactions: the role of amoebal encystment and the expansion of the 'Cheshire Cat' theory.

Acanthamoeba and mimivirus interactions: the role of amoebal encystment and the expansion of the 'Cheshire Cat' theory. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2016 Jan 25;31:9-15 Authors: Silva LK, Boratto PV, La Scola B, Bonjardim CA, Abrahão JS Abstract Acanthamoeba are natural hosts for giant viruses and their life cycle comprises two stages: a trophozoite and a cryptobiotic cyst. Encystment involves a massive turnover of cellular components under molecular regulation. Giant viruses are able to infect only the trophozoite, while cysts are resistant to infection. Otherwise, upon infection, mimiviruses are able to prevent encystment. This review highlights the important points of Acanthamoeba and giant virus interactions regarding the encystment process. The existence of an acanthamoebal non-permissive cell for Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus, the prototype member of the Mimivirus genus, is analyzed at the molecular and ecological levels, and compared to a similar phenomenon previously described for Emiliana huxleyi and its associated phycodnaviruses: the 'Cheshire Cat' escape strategy. PMID: 26820447 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Current Opinion in Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Curr Opin Microbiol Source Type: research