00:00 A vampire virus that attacks other viruses to replicate.
00:02 Scientists have discovered for the first time a virus attached to another.
00:05 Using an electronic transmission microscope,
00:07 researchers have captured a purple satellite virus attaching to the neck of an auxiliary blue virus.
00:11 The two studied viruses have bacterial characteristics,
00:14 which means they infect bacteria.
00:16 The purple virus, smaller, needs the blue virus to replicate its DNA inside the high cells
00:20 because it does not have mechanisms to do so autonomously.
00:23 The discovery was made by a team of researchers from Maryland during an environmental sampling test.
00:28 According to them, about 80% of auxiliary bacteriophages had a satellite attached to the neck.
00:32 Some of them even had bite marks indicating previous interactions with the satellites.
00:37 Studies suggest that satellite viruses attach to their auxiliaries as part of a survival strategy.
00:41 This attachment ensures that the satellite enters the high cell at the same time as its auxiliary.
00:45 Regarding their usefulness, purple satellites have a direct impact on their auxiliary viruses,
00:48 mutilating them generally, but sometimes making killers more effective.
00:52 Purple satellites have the potential to transform the way researchers understand antiviral strategies.
00:56 But there is still a lot to learn about them.
00:58 If you liked the subject and want to know more about the recent scientific effects, subscribe to Omniscience.
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