Virovore

Virovore

News: Researchers have found the first known 'Virovore' or organism that eats viruses. The new findings may change our understanding of the role viruses play in the food chain at a microscopic level.

What is Virovore?
• It has been identified as an actual species of protist that feasts on viruses.
• These virus-eating species of protists which are their own kingdom on the tree of life and are not an animal, plant, or fungi are now classified as Virovores.
• It is a species of Halteria - microscopic ciliates that populate freshwater worldwide. The microbe Halteria is a common genus of protist known to flit about as its hair-like cilia propel it through the water.
• They're made up of nucleic acids, nitrogen, and phosphorus. It can eat huge numbers of infectious chloroviruses that share their aquatic habitat. Chloroviruses are known to infect microscopic green algae.
• These organisms can sustain themselves with viruses, consuming many and growing in size.
• A virus-only diet, termed 'virovory' is enough to fuel the physiological growth and even population growth of an organism.