Large eukaryotic DNA viruses encode ESCRT machinery for membrane remodelling.

Mirusviruses and some Nucleocytoviricota viruses encode homologues of ESCRT-III and the ATPase Vps4, revealing viral access to membrane-remodelling machinery in unicellular eukaryotes.

• Why it matters: Host ESCRT drives membrane constriction and scission during budding, yet no enveloped eukaryotic virus was known to carry ESCRT components itself.
• What they did: The study identified ESCRT-III and ATPase Vps4 homologues in mirusviruses and in some Nucleocytoviricota viruses that infect unicellular eukaryotes.
• The result: The findings suggest mirusviruses may have hijacked host ESCRT machinery early in their evolution, implying an encoded route to membrane budding.

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