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Do beneficial viruses exist? If so, what examples are there?

Biology Asked by rus9384 on June 15, 2021

Typically, people call viruses some kind of organic compounds that cannot reproduce autonomously and which lower the fitness of their hosts. Even the word “virus” means “venom” in Latin.

But from the perspective of natural selection, one would expect those organic compounds that cannot reproduce autonomously, but which would increase the fitness of their hosts, to be more widespread. One can see an analogy with bacteria: people are more aware of harmful bacteria and even such words as “microbe” are perceived as somewhat harmful (among non-biologists for sure). But we know that an animal body contains many more useful bacteria than harmful ones, and animals have their own microflora, which are necessary for survival.

The same must be true for viruses: those viruses which were useful (or at least unharmful) to their hosts would be passed more easily to other organisms since their hosts would have a selective advantage.

So, do such beneficial for their direct hosts viruses exist? If so, what are they called? What are the examples?

7 Answers

Do they exist? Yes

What are they called? Marilyn Roossinck calls them viral mutualistic symbiotes. She has an excellent review here.

What are some examples?

My personal favorite is GB-Virus C, or Hepatitis G, which appears to slow the progression of HIV using a number of different mechanisms:

Box 1. Summary of the effects of GBV-C infection in HIV-positive individuals

  • GBV-C infection downregulates HIV entry co-receptors CCR5 and CXCR4, and increases secretion of their ligands RANTES, MIP-1α, MIP-1β and SDF-1.
  • In vitro GBV-C NS5A and E2 proteins inhibit X4- and R5-tropic HIV replication, and NS5A protein downregulates CD4 and CXCR4 gene expression.
  • HIV-infected individuals positive for GBV-C E2 antibodies have survival benefit over HIV-infected individuals with neither GBV-C viremia nor E2 antibodies; in vitro GBV-C E2 antibodies immunoprecipitate HIV particles and inhibit X4- and R5-tropic HIV replication.
  • GBV-C induces activation of interferon-related genes and pDCs.
  • GBV-C promotes Th1 polarization and the NS5A protein contributes to this effect.
  • GBV-C infection reduces surface expression of activation markers on T lymphocytes, suggesting its role in T cell activation signaling pathways.
  • GBV-C protects the T cell from Fas-mediated apoptosis and as a result of its effect on immune activation may also play a role in protecting lymphocytes from activation-induced cell death.
  • GBV-C viremia reduces IL-2-mediated T cell proliferation suggesting a significant interaction between GBV-C, IL-2 and IL-2 signaling pathways.

Endogenous retroviruses

As @mbrig recalls in the comments, there are a number of retroviruses that have inserted themselves into the germ line. Those are called endogenous retroviruses, and they interact with the host genome in a number of ways. Some are even translated:

Proteins produced from ERV env genes have also been demonstrated to function as restriction factors against exogenous retroviral infection

Correct answer by De Novo on June 15, 2021

Another good virus would be a Bacteriophage, a virus that infects and kills illness-causing bacteria. From Wiki:

A bacteriophage also known informally as a phage, is a virus that infects and replicates within Bacteria and Archaea. The term was derived from "bacteria" and the Greek φαγεῖν (phagein), "to devour". Bacteriophages are composed of proteins that encapsulate a DNA or RNA genome, and may have relatively simple or elaborate structures.

They have been used for over 90 years as an alternative to antibiotics in the former Soviet Union and Central Europe as well as in France. They are seen as a possible therapy against multi-drug-resistant strains of many bacteria.

Intentionally using Bacteriophages medicinally is called phage therapy.

Answered by axsvl77 on June 15, 2021

I would say that if any "good" viruses exist, they are already within us. Retrotransposons are genetic elements in our DNA that were likely ancient viruses and they move around from time to time either by excising themselves and moving somewhere else or by making a copy and inserting it somewhere else in the genome. Even though we are born with them, their activity is similar to modern viruses. When retrotransposons insert themselves in a new place they can cause disease, but the variation they cause likely brought us some beneficial advantage at some point because we have so many of them and they stuck around this long.

Answered by Cell on June 15, 2021

We have engineered a few good viruses to treat certain diseases

Per my comment and response:

The most current example (at this time and based on my recollection) is the virus we have engineered to treat a certain type of macro degenerative eye condition:

Scientists Have Reversed Age-Related Blindness by Deliberately Infecting Eyes With a Virus

There are a few other cases out there, and, as always, xkcd is there to help:

T Cells

Answered by Reginald Blue on June 15, 2021

Cowpox and smallpox viruses structurally similar, and catching one confers immunity to both by immune system response, but one was a deadly disease and the other almost harmless. Once this was discovered, the days of smallpox were numbered. We had the means and the motivation to stamp it out.

On my last check a few years ago, we are deliberately keeping cowpox alive to ensure that we can kill smallpox should it ever come back.

The virus that ended a plague is a good virus.

Answered by Joshua on June 15, 2021

Biologically, all viruses by themselves are bad. More accurately, they have a negative effect. They work by injecting a strand of DNA into one of the host's cells, which makes the cell produce viruses instead of more cells. However, some viruses negative effect when paired with another virus can produce a double negative. Unfortunately, it never quite cancels out.

To sum it up, if you have a virus, there is definitely something bad happening in your system.

Answered by Bilbo Baggins on June 15, 2021

So, do such beneficial for their direct hosts viruses exist? If so, what are they called? What are the examples?

Bacterial viruses, termed bacteriophages or simply phages are normally killers of bacteria and thus occasionally useful for humans (e.g. phage therapy) but not beneficial for their hosts. However, some phages, called temperate phages, have a lysogenic life cycle, where the viral genome can become integrated into the bacterial chromosome and they replicate with the bacteria (at least temporarily) as a prophage. These prophages have a shared evolutionary fate with the bacteria and can be directly beneficial by carrying bacterial fitness factors such as virulence factors or antibiotic resistance genes. You might be interested to read more in our short review.

Answered by Chris_Rands on June 15, 2021

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