Dead Spread

Unlike a bacterial infection caused by tiny living creatures, viruses aren’t technically alive at all. Their spread from cell to cell is more like an unfortunate trick. An infected ‘host’ cell is fooled into reproducing the virus’ genetic material, before it shoots off towards another cell, ripping the host apart in the process. These cells are infected with the Guaico Culex virus, a multicomponent virus, where the virus spreads in separate pieces. They plop into cells in different combinations – producing blends of artificial colour in these infected mosquito cells. Multicomponent viruses are most common in plants and fungi, yet this virus in mosquitos, and a similar one in primates, suggests animal infections do happen. It’s not clear why a virus would split up like this, though. One theory is that different parts may produce different effects on the host. Quite a feat for lifeless particles, really.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image courtesy of Michael Lindquist, USAMRIID (US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases)
• Center for Genome Sciences, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
• Image copyright held by original authors
• Research published in Cell Host & Microbe, September 2016