The discovery emerged from an undergraduate class focused on teaching basic laboratory techniques. Students isolated phages from soil samples, with deCarvalho overseeing the program.
The unexpected revelation occurred when undergraduate students Jenell Lewis and Hira Ahmed, in 2019, isolated and named their phage MindFlayer. However, genome sequencing results suggested contamination, leading to further investigation and the identification of the attached MiniFlayer.
Virosphere MiniFlayer
In the microcosm of viruses, termed the “virosphere,” satellites are known elements that have lost the ability to replicate inside cells. Typically, satellites integrate into the genome of the cells they infect, relying on a “helper” virus to provide missing ingredients for reproduction.
However, MiniFlayer stands out as a satellite that lacks the ability to hide inside cells, prompting the question of how it ensures simultaneous entry with its helper.
The ingenious solution employed by the MiniFlayer involves attaching to its helper at the “neck,” facilitating joint travel until they find a new cell. This strategy showcases the evolutionary arms race between bacterial and viral phages, where tactics like molecular piracy and hijacking have evolved over millions of years.
