[allmendream]

“The hosts of all three known virophages belong to a group of giant viruses known as nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDV). “NCLDV viruses have large and complex genomes that allow them to incorporate the smaller virophages, something smaller viruses may not be able to do,” says Desnues.”

So I guess it works like this. These giant viruses infect Zooplankton in the lake and these virophages have protein shells to dock with and inject their “code” into the giant virus and get incorporated into the viral genome.

When the infected virus (infected by a smaller virus) infects a Zooplankon and reproduces - it reproduces WITH IT - the little sucker that will infect uninfected virus.

All this reproducing of the ‘virophage’ during its own infection of Zooplankton really messes up the virus - and allows the Zooplankon to thrive more than it would if the virus went unchecked.

..............................................................................wow...............................................that is CRAZY!!!!!!!!!

[neverdem]

All this reproducing of the ‘virophage’ during its own infection of Zooplankton really messes up the virus - and allows the Zooplankon to thrive more than it would if the virus went unchecked.

Maybe the virophage is able to use the Zooplankton to reproduce. I'm no virologist or microbiologist, but this is certainly new.