Some animals ingest viruses for food and energy, researchers say. Viruses have been assumed to be toxic to almost every living thing, but recent research suggests otherwise.
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Over a single day, in the placid waters of a single pond, a million virus particles might enter a single-celled organism known for the minuscule hairs, or cilia, that propel it through those waters.
Researchers discovered that a type of Halteria, which are tiny ciliates that live in freshwater habitats all over the world, may consume large quantities of infectious chloroviruses. For the first time, the team's laboratory tests have also demonstrated that a virus-only diet, or "virovory," is sufficient to support an organism's physiological growth and even population increase.