Sangita Karki

Giant endogenous viral elements in the genome of the model protist Euglena gracilis reveal past interactions with giant viruses

The paper identifies 8 Giant Endogenous Viral Elements in Euglena gracilis, suggesting they originated from a common viral lineage and expanded the known host range of Asfuvirales.

Chimeric Origin of Eukaryotes from Asgard Archaea and Ancestral Giant Viruses

This study shows eukaryotic DNA and RNA polymerases originated from Asgard archaea and giant viruses, supporting a chimeric origin of eukaryotes.