Seasonal dynamics and diversity of Antarctic marine viruses reveal a novel viral seascape

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 9192 - 16
• Main Authors: Piedade, Gonçalo J., Schön, Max E., Lood, Cédric, Fofanov, Mikhail V., Wesdorp, Ella M., Biggs, Tristan E. G., Wu, Lingyi, Bolhuis, Henk, Fischer, Matthias G., Yutin, Natalya, Dutilh, Bas E., Brussaard, Corina P. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 24-10-2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 45/23; 49/31; 631/326/1321; 631/326/2565/2142; 631/326/596/2142; 704/158/2446/2447; 704/445/125; Antarctic Regions; Bacteriophages - classification; Bacteriophages - genetics; Bacteriophages - isolation & purification; Biodiversity; Climate Change; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA viruses; DNA Viruses - classification; DNA Viruses - genetics; DNA Viruses - isolation & purification; Ecosystem; Ecosystem dynamics; Environmental changes; Environmental impact; Group dynamics; Humanities and Social Sciences; Marine ecosystems; Microorganisms; multidisciplinary; Oceans and Seas; Phages; Phylogeny; Phytoplankton; Phytoplankton - virology; Population dynamics; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seasonal variations; Seasons; Seawater - microbiology; Seawater - virology; Virophages - genetics; Viruses; Viruses - classification; Viruses - genetics; Viruses - isolation & purification; Antarctic Regions; Southern Ocean
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53317-y

The Southern Ocean microbial ecosystem, with its pronounced seasonal shifts, is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Since viruses are key modulators of microbial abundance, diversity, and evolution, we need a better understanding of the effects of seasonality on the viruses in this region. Our comprehensive exploration of DNA viral diversity in the Southern Ocean reveals a unique and largely uncharted viral landscape, of which 75% was previously unidentified in other oceanic areas. We uncover novel viral taxa at high taxonomic ranks, expanding our understanding of crassphage, polinton-like virus, and virophage diversity.
Nucleocytoviricota
viruses represent an abundant and diverse group of Antarctic viruses, highlighting their potential as important regulators of phytoplankton population dynamics. Our temporal analysis reveals complex seasonal patterns in marine viral communities (bacteriophages, eukaryotic viruses) which underscores the apparent interactions with their microbial hosts, whilst deepening our understanding of their roles in the world’s most sensitive and rapidly changing ecosystem.
The study reveals that the Southern Ocean hosts a unique and largely underexplored DNA viral community. It explores the diversity of viral communities infecting all domains of life and their seasonality, emphasizing their role in ecosystem dynamics.