Fig. 8: Virophage infection and rRNA shutdown induced by Tupanvirus.

A. castellanii cells were coinfected with Tupanvirus Deep Ocean at an MOI of 100 and each virophage at MOIs of 10. a Electrophoresis gel showing the ribosomal RNA profile (18S and 28S) from A. castellanii in the presence and absence of Guarani. Moumouvirus was used as a giant virus control. Tupanvirus has remarkably induced a severe shutdown in rRNA even in the presence of virophage. b All virophages replicate with Moumouvirus at an MOI of 100. c All virophages failed to replicate in amoebas coinfected with Tupanvirus at an MOI of 100. Error bars, standard deviation (n = 3 biologically independent experiments). TDO: Tupanvirus Deep Ocean.