Diversity and origins of bacterial and archaeal viruses on sinking particles reaching the abyssal ocean.

ABSTRACT: Sinking particles and particle-associated microbes influence global biogeochemistry through particulate matter export from the surface to the deep ocean. Despite ongoing studies of particle-associated microbes, viruses in these habitats remain largely unexplored. Whether, where, and which viruses might contribute to particle production and export remain open to investigation. In this study, we analyzed 857 virus population genomes associated with sinking particles collected over three years in sediment traps moored at 4000 m in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Particle-associated viruses here were linked to cellular hosts through matches to bacterial and archaeal metagenome-assembled genome (MAG)-encoded prophages or CRISPR spacers, identifying novel viruses infecting presumptive deep-s

SUBMITTER: Luo E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9122931 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature