Hiroyuki Hikida

Poxvirus gene repertoires are shaped by expansion-biased birth-and-death dynamics and genome architectural constraints

This study analyzes poxvirus gene repertoires and finds that they evolve through expansion-biased birth-and-death dynamics and genome architectural constraints.

Horizontal transfer of a 180-kbp genomic fraction among the largest viral genomes

This study identifies a 180-kbp genomic region horizontally transferred among pandoraviruses, contributing to their genomic expansion and evolution.

Genetic manipulation of a giant virus-associated virophage

This study develops a reverse-genetics system for a virophage to investigate gene functions and their role in modulating giant virus replication.

Giant virus creates subcellular environment to overcome codon-tRNA mismatch

The paper shows how mimiviruses create a subcellular environment to overcome codon-tRNA mismatch by localizing viral mRNAs and proteins at the periphery of a viral factory.

Generation of a recombinant mimivirus by direct transfection of a PCR amplicon

This study develops a method to generate a recombinant mimivirus by directly transfecting a PCR amplicon into host cells, bypassing the need for plasmid construction.

Sputnik virophage disrupts the transcriptional regulation of its host giant virus

This study shows Sputnik virophage alters APMV gene expression timing, prolonging early and delaying late gene expression, without significantly affecting amoeba gene expression.