The recovery of two circularized genomes of the Heimdallarchaeum species from hydrothermal vent enrichment cultures reveals that these Asgard archaea carry diverse mobile genetic elements, such as an integrative viral genome and aloposons. These mobile genetic elements contain several bacteria- and phage-derived genes, modulating the shuffling of information between bacteria and archaea, and potentially influencing eukaryogenesis.
- Fabai Wu
- Daan R. Speth
- Victoria J. Orphan
