Mutualistic viruses and the heteronomy of life

Thomas Pradeu (1)

1 CIRID - Composantes innées de la réponse immunitaire et différenciation

Though viruses have generally been characterized by their pathogenic and more generally harmful effects, many examples of mutualistic viruses exist. Here I explain how the idea of mutualistic viruses has been defended in recent virology, and I explore four important conceptual and practical consequences of this idea. I ask to what extent this research modifies the way scientists might search for new viruses, our notion of how the host immune system interacts with microbes, the development of new therapeutic approaches, and, finally, the role played by the criterion of autonomy in our understanding of living things. Overall, I suggest that the recognition of mutualistic viruses plays a major role in a wider ongoing revision of our conception of viruses.

Mots clés: Autonomy; Symbiosis; virus; Co-infection; Immune system; Microbiota; Mutualism; Virobiota; Virus

Domaines: Histoire, Philosophie et Sociologie des sciences; Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Immunologie

Thomas Pradeu. Mutualistic viruses and the heteronomy of life. Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, 2016, 59, pp.80-88. ⟨10.1016/j.shpsc.2016.02.007⟩. ⟨hal-01343691⟩