A closed Candidatus Odinarchaeum chromosome exposes Asgard archaeal viruses
Daniel Tamarit, Eva Caceres, Mart Krupovìč, Reindert Nijland, Laura Eme, Nicholas P. Robinson, Thijs J. G. Ettema
Abstract
Asgard archaea have recently been identified as the closest archaeal relatives of eukaryotes. Their ecology, and particularly their virome, remain enigmatic. We reassembled and closed the chromosome of Candidatus Odinarchaeum yellowstonii LCB_4, through long-range PCR, revealing CRISPR spacers targeting viral contigs. We found related viruses in the genomes of diverse prokaryotes from geothermal environments, including other Asgard archaea. These viruses open research avenues into the ecology and evolution of Asgard archaea.
Topics & Concepts
ArchaeaBiologyCandidatusHuman viromeGenomeMetagenomicsEvolutionary biologyGeneticsGeneBacteriophages and microbial interactionsGenomics and Phylogenetic StudiesMicrobial Community Ecology and Physiology