This is not an article but our request for your help. However, we are not interested in your money but in something more valuable – your time.
We are looking for information that will help us move forward and – as we believe – even closer to a functional solution to our common problems. If you find the answer to this question, we will be grateful if you write this information, including the source, in the comments below or send it to our email helpus@piqaso.com.
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PIQASO team
Why do we ask this question?
There are viruses like the Sputnik that attack other viruses such as mamaviruses. When Sputnik enters, it “steals” the mamavirus’ setup to make more of its own copies. The infection harms the mamavirus, causing failed attempts, or producing abnormal capsids. As Sputnik creates more of itself, the larger virus loses out. The mamaviruses won’t produce as many copies, reducing its chances of infecting other hosts.
As interesting as this is, it isn’t the first case of one virus using another virus’ machinery to reproduce. Many viruses, called satellite viruses, enter cells that are already infected with another virus, referred to as the “helper virus”, and use the latter’s machinery to reproduce. The difference between Sputnik, a virophage, and satellite viruses lies in the fate of the helper virus.
