Long-read viral metagenomics captures abundant and microdiverse viral populations and their niche-defining genomic islands.

ABSTRACT: Marine viruses impact global biogeochemical cycles via their influence on host community structure and function, yet our understanding of viral ecology is constrained by limitations in host culturing and a lack of reference genomes and 'universal' gene markers to facilitate community surveys. Short-read viral metagenomic studies have provided clues to viral function and first estimates of global viral gene abundance and distribution, but their assemblies are confounded by populations with high levels of strain evenness and nucleotide diversity (microdiversity), limiting assembly of some of the most abundant viruses on Earth. Such features also challenge assembly across genomic islands containing niche-defining genes that drive ecological speciation. These populations and features may be su

SUBMITTER: Warwick-Dugdale J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6487183 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature