Exploring the Viruses of Asgard Archaea and Origins of Complex Life: A Conversation with Dr. Leao

The Asgard archaea are a globally distributed group of microorganisms with significant links to eukaryotes. Despite their global presence and potential implications for our understanding of evolution, viruses that infect these organisms remain understudied and poorly understood. In this episode, we discuss the fascinating work of Dr. Leao, who has shed light on the nature of these viruses. Using metagenome sequences from deep-sea hydrothermal sediments, Dr. Leao and his team characterized six relatively large double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viral genomes that infect two Asgard archaeal phyla, Lokiarchaeota and Helarchaeota. These Asgard viruses are intriguing as they show features of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses, suggesting a unique evolutionary history. They possess Caudovirales-like structural proteins and a percentage of their genes are associated with eukaryotic nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs). Furthermore, they appear to be capable of independent genome replication, repair, epigenetic modifications, and transcriptional regulation. Dr. Leao's research offers fascinating insights into the genomic capabilities of these viruses, suggesting a complex interplay with their Asgard archaea hosts. Join us as we delve into the mysteries of the Asgard viruses and explore their potential impact on our understanding of viral evolution and infection mechanisms.Keywords: Asgard Archaea, Viral Genomes, Lokiarchaeota, Helarchaeota, Dr. Leao, Prokaryotic Viruses, Eukaryotic Viruses, Metagenome Sequences.Rambo, I.M., Langwig, M.V., Leão, P. et al. Genomes of six viruses that infect Asgard archaea from deep-sea sediments. Nat Microbiol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-022-01150-8