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Enemies with benefits: mutualistic interactions of viruses with lower eukaryotes

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Abstract

Viruses represent some of the deadliest pathogens known to science. Recently they have been reported to have mutualistic interactions with their hosts, providing them direct or indirect benefits. The mutualism and symbiogenesis of such viruses with lower eukaryotic partners such as fungi, yeast, and insects have been reported but the full mechanism of interaction often remains an enigma. In many instances, these viral interactions provide resistance against several biotic and abiotic stresses, which could be the prime reason for the ecological success and positive selection of the hosts. These viruses modulate host metabolism and behavior, so both can obtain maximum benefits from the environment. They bring about micro- and macro-level changes in the hosts, benefiting their adaptation, reproduction, development, and survival. These virus-host interactions can be bilateral or tripartite with a variety of interacting partners. Exploration of these interactions can shed light on one of the well-coordinated biological phenomena of co-evolution and can be highly utilized for various applications in agriculture, fermentation and the pharmaceutical industries.

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Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge Dr. Tuli Dey, Dr. Rohan Khadilkar and Dr. Sneha Bansode for their critical comments. Authors also acknowledge Ms. Yoshita Bhide and Ms. Shriya Lele for their editorial assistance.

Funding

Financial support is provided by the research grant from Department of Science and Technology, Government of India under ECR/2015/000502 Grant and Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, Maharashtra India.

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  1. Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India

    Shounak S. Jagdale & Rakesh S. Joshi

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  1. Shounak S. Jagdale
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  2. Rakesh S. Joshi
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The concept was developed and articulated by SSJ and RSJ. Manuscript was written and edited by SSJ and RSJ.

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Correspondence to Rakesh S. Joshi.

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Jagdale, S.S., Joshi, R.S. Enemies with benefits: mutualistic interactions of viruses with lower eukaryotes. Arch Virol 163, 821–830 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-017-3686-5

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