We are investigating viruses infecting prokaryotic (bacterial and archaeal) hosts and containing protein, nucleic acid and lipid constituents. These viruses are used as model organisms in understanding structure, assembly and function of biological macromolecule complexes. These studies have also shed light to the evolution and origin of viruses. We propose that seemingly nonrelated virus families infecting hosts in all the three domains of life may have a common origin.
Viruses currently under study include enveloped dsRNA phages in the Cystoviridae family (phi 6–phi 14), icosahedral dsDNA, Tectiviruses PRD1 and Bam35, Corticovirus PM2 and an archaeal virus SH1. We are also screening novel viruses from the environment for detailed structural and functional studies.
One additional line of research is utilising RNA dependent RNA polymerases originating from phi viruses. Such polymerases, in addition to sheding light to the mechanisms of initiation, elongation and termination, are valuable tools in biotechnology due to their capacity to produce dsRNA of practically unlimited lenght or amount for gene silencing.
We operate at the Viikki Campus of the University of Helsinki as a joint program between Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences.