viruksina

Viruksina is a genus of small, non-enveloped viruses that belongs to the family Infectoriidae within the order Ribovirales. The genus was first described in 1997 by researchers in the University of Tübingen after isolation from a strain of pathogenic bacteria in northern Europe. Viruksinas possess icosahedral capsids approximately 25 to 30 nanometers in diameter and contain a single-stranded RNA genome ranging from 4.5 to 5.2 kilobases in length. The genomic RNA encodes four structural proteins and two non‑structural proteins that facilitate replication and host manipulation.

Species within the genus have been identified in a variety of bacterial hosts, including members of the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Listeria. Infections by viruksinas do not typically cause overt cytopathic effects in host cells; instead, they influence bacterial physiology by modulating transcriptional networks that enhance conidial sporulation. Experimental evidence indicates that viruksina infection can increase resistance to certain antibiotics, thereby contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance within bacterial populations.

Electron microscopy studies have revealed that viruksinas enter bacterial cells via receptor‑mediated endocytosis, after which the viral RNA is released into the cytoplasm and hijacks the host’s replication machinery. Replication is believed to occur in the cytoplasmic membrane region, with viral replication complexes associated with specific ribosomal subunits.

Research interest in viruksina has largely focused on its potential use as a biocontrol agent against pathogenic bacteria in agriculture, as well as its role in mediating horizontal gene transfer among microbial communities. Ongoing studies aim to clarify the structural basis of viruksina host specificity and to evaluate the safety profiles of any engineered viruksina-based applications.