The Marine Viromes of Four Oceanic Regions
Author Information
Author(s): Angly Florent E, Felts Ben, Breitbart Mya, Salamon Peter, Edwards Robert A, Carlson Craig, Chan Amy M, Haynes Matthew, Kelley Scott, Liu Hong, Mahaffy Joseph M, Mueller Jennifer E, Nulton Jim, Olson Robert, Parsons Rachel, Rayhawk Steve, Suttle Curtis A, Rohwer Forest
Primary Institution: San Diego State University
Hypothesis
What types of viruses are in Earth's oceans and how are they distributed?
Conclusion
The study found that marine viruses are widely dispersed, with local environmental conditions influencing the prevalence of certain viral types.
Supporting Evidence
- Most viral sequences were not similar to those in current databases.
- Global diversity was very high, presumably several hundred thousand species.
- Regional richness varied on a North-South latitudinal gradient.
- Cyanophages dominated the Sargasso Sea sample.
- Prophage-like sequences were most common in the Arctic.
- Most viral species were found to be widespread.
- Local environmental conditions enrich for certain viral types.
Takeaway
Scientists looked at viruses in the ocean and found many different kinds, showing that some viruses are everywhere while others are more common in certain places.
Methodology
Metagenomic analyses of viral assemblages collected over a decade from four major oceanic regions.
Potential Biases
Biases may arise from different storage times and methods of amplification affecting the relative concentrations of different genomes.
Limitations
Potential sampling and processing biases, including loss of large viruses during filtering and the inability to recover RNA viruses.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.017
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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