Genome-wide screen uncovers novel host factors for L-A virus maintenance and a potential mutualistic-symbiosis relationship in yeast

Our findings uncover a previously unrecognized virus-host mutualism, wherein L-A benefits its host under environmental stress. These results not only expand our understanding of persistent viral infections in eukaryotes but also challenge the canonical view of viruses as purely parasitic, offering new insights into virus-host co-evolution and endogenous viral persistence.