Can viruses form biofilms?

• Autores: Maria Isabel Thoulouze, Andrés Alcover
• Localización: Trends in microbiology, ISSN 0966-842X, Vol. 19, Nº. 6, 2011, págs. 257-262
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The recent finding that the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) encases itself in a carbohydrate-rich adhesive extracellular \u2018cocoon\u2019, which enables its efficient and protected transfer between cells, unveiled a new infectious entity and a novel mechanism of viral transmission. These HTLV-1 structures are observed at the surface of T cells from HTLV-1-infected patients and are reminiscent of bacterial biofilms. The virus controls the synthesis of the matrix, which surrounds the virions and attaches them to the T cell surface. We propose that, similar to bacterial biofilms, viral biofilms could represent "viral communities" with enhanced infectious capacity and improved spread compared with "free" viral particles, and might constitute a key reservoir for chronic infections.