Researchers Discover Giant Virus That Infects Deadly Brain-Eating Amoeba

Researchers from the University of Vienna and international collaborators have discovered a giant virus called Naegleriavirus that infects the deadly brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri.

The discovery, published in Nature Communications, could potentially open doors for preventative treatment of water bodies to combat the rare but fatal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba.

The newly discovered Naegleriaviruses were isolated from a wastewater treatment plant near Vienna and are part of a group called Klosneuviruses. These giant viruses are taken up by the amoeba as a food source but then destroy the host cell within hours. "These viruses are taken up by the amoeba as a food source but then destroy the host cell within a few hours," the researchers explained.

The Naegleriavirus exhibits a unique star-shaped stargate structure that facilitates the entry of their DNA into the host cells. Once inside, the virus forms a 'virus factory,' replicating its genetic material and assembling hundreds of new virus particles.

Why this matters: The discovery of the Naegleriavirus opens the possibility of preventative treatment of at-risk water bodies, such as during swimming pool water treatment, to combat the rare but fatal PAM infection caused by Naegleria fowleri. This finding could lead to new strategies for controlling the spread of the deadly amoeba and reducing the risk of the brain infection.

While the Naegleriaviruses may not be suitable for directly treating Naegleria infections in the brain due to the challenging accessibility, the researchers believe that understanding the interactions between the virus and the amoeba could lead to new strategies to control the spread of this deadly pathogen in water sources. "The discovery of these viruses opens the possibility of preventative treatment of at-risk water bodies, such as during swimming pool water treatment, to combat the rare but fatal PAM, though further research is still required," the researchers noted.

Key Takeaways

• Researchers discovered a giant virus, Naegleriavirus, that infects deadly brain-eating amoeba.
• Naegleriavirus destroys the amoeba host cell within hours after being taken up as food.
• Naegleriavirus has a unique star-shaped structure that facilitates entry into host cells.
• Discovery opens possibility of preventative treatment of water bodies to combat fatal PAM.
• Further research is still required to develop strategies to control the deadly amoeba.