Infection cycles of viruses of the phylum Nucleocytoviricota.

Infection cycles of Nucleocytoviricota viruses share core features but also show lineage-specific innovations across diverse hosts and virus types.

• Why it matters: Understanding how these viruses interact with their hosts and whether their infection processes are conserved is crucial for insights into viral evolution and potential impacts on eukaryotic life.
• What they did: The authors synthesized data from major virus groups, comparing molecular mechanisms of entry, factory formation, genome replication, virion assembly, and egress across diverse Nucleocytoviricota lineages.
• The result: This review highlights both shared infection traits and unique adaptations, providing a framework that advances understanding of large DNA virus biology and guides future research directions.