Sputnik virophage
Mimivirus-dependent virus Sputnik (from Russian спутник "satellite") is a subviral agent that reproduces in amoeba cells that are already infected by a certain helper virus; Sputnik uses the helper virus's machinery for reproduction and inhibits replication of the helper virus. It is known as a virophage, in analogy to the term bacteriophage.
| Mimivirus-dependent virus Sputnik | |
|---|---|
| Virus classification | |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Realm: | Varidnaviria |
| Kingdom: | Bamfordvirae |
| Phylum: | Preplasmiviricota |
| Class: | Maveriviricetes |
| Order: | Priklausovirales |
| Family: | Lavidaviridae |
| Genus: | Sputnikvirus |
| Species: | Mimivirus-dependent virus Sputnik |
| Member virus | |
| |
Viruses like Sputnik that depend on co-infection of the host cell by helper viruses are known as satellite viruses. At its discovery in a Paris water-cooling tower in 2008, Sputnik was the first known satellite virus that inhibited replication of its helper virus and thus acted as a parasite of that virus. In analogy, it was called a virophage.
Sputnik virophages were found infecting giant viruses of Mimiviridae group A. However, they are able to grow in amoebae infected by Mimiviridae of any of the groups A, B, and C.