A polinton-like virus of the algae Chrysochromulina parva inhibits the growth of a newly isolated relative of Tethysvirus ontarioense

Previous discovery of genomes of polinton-like viruses (PLVs) associated with viruses of Chrysochromulina parva stimulated this research to determine the biological nature of these putative viral hyperparasites. Purification of C. parva viruses to enable co-infection experiments led to the discovery of a previously unknown virus, CpV-BQ3, which, based on sequence information and electron microscopy, is a species of Tethysvirus, a genus within the Megaviricetes. Purification and TEM imaging of CpV-PLV Moe revealed naked icosahedral particles morphologically similar other cultivated virophages and PLVs. Mixed-infection experiments with the putative polinton-like virus CpV-PLV Moe demonstrated that CpV-BQ3 supports its replication whereas the putative Phycodnavirus CpV-BQ1 does not. Further, experimental infections with differing proportions of the Moe and its helper virus CpV-BQ3 revealed a dose-effect whereby high levels of Moe had a greater negative impact on BQ3 replication compared to lower levels. Conversely, high levels of Moe relative to BQ3 provided greater protection for C. parva allowing enhanced cell survival whereas low doses of Moe did not prevent cell lysis. Overall, the results of this study demonstrated the intimate relationship of CpV-PLV Moe with the newly discovered virus, CpV-BQ3, and C. parva, and illustrate the complex ecology of algal viruses.