CRISPR analysis suggests that small circular single-stranded DNA smacoviruses infect Archaea instead of humans

Abstract

Smacoviruses are found in the intestinal tract of humans and animals but their precise host remains elusive. Here, the authors identify smacovirus-matching CRISPR spacer sequences in the faecal archaeon Candidatus Methanomassiliicoccus intestinalis, implicating Archaea as a potential host.