Hundreds Of New Giant Viruses Discovered In Global Waters: Study
In a major scientific breakthrough, researchers have discovered hundreds of previously unknown giant viruses in oceans around the world. Led by marine biologist Benjamin Minch and virologist Mohammad Moniruzzaman from the University of Miami, the team used advanced computer software to analyze seawater samples and identify microbial genomes. Among their findings were 230 giant viruses never before documented.
These discoveries are significant because they help scientists better understand ocean ecosystems, especially the role of viruses in the lives of microscopic marine organisms called protists. These include algae, amoeba, and flagellates, which are essential to the ocean's food chain and overall health.
The study, titled "Expansion of the Genomic and Functional Diversity of Global Ocean Giant Viruses," was published on April 21, 2025, in the journal Nature npj Viruses. It reports the discovery of numerous previously unknown giant virus genomes, significantly expanding the existing scientific understanding of viral diversity in the world's oceans. Within these genomes, 530 new functional proteins were characterized, including nine proteins involved in photosynthesis. This indicates that these viruses may be able to manipulate their host and the photosynthesis process during infection.
"By better understanding the diversity and role of giant viruses in the ocean and how they interact with algae and other ocean microbes, we can predict and possibly manage harmful algal blooms, which are human health hazards in Florida as well as all over the world," said Mohammad Moniruzzaman, a co-author of the study and an assistant professor in the Department of Marine Biology and Ecology. "Giant viruses are often the main cause of death for many phytoplankton, which serve as the base of the food web supporting ocean ecosystems and food sources. The novel functions found in giant viruses could have biotechnological potential, as some of these functions might represent novel enzymes."
Until recently, giant viruses were largely undetected by scientific methods due to limitations in bioinformatic pipelines. The researchers created an innovative tool called BEREN (Bioinformatic tool for Eukaryotic virus Recovery from Environmental metageNomes), designed to identify giant virus genomes within extensive public DNA sequencing datasets.
"We discovered that giant viruses possess genes involved in cellular functions such as carbon metabolism and photosynthesis-traditionally found only in cellular organisms, said Benjamin Minch, the lead author of the study and a doctoral student in the Department of Marine Biology and Ecology at the Rosenstiel School."This suggests that giant viruses play an outsized role in manipulating their host's metabolism during infection and influencing marine biogeochemistry."
The authors used the University of Miami's Pegasus supercomputer at the Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing (IDSC) to process and assemble large metagenomes-often exceeding a gigabase per library-enabling the reconstruction of hundreds of microbial community libraries.
"This study allowed us to create a framework to improve existing tools for detecting novel viruses that could aid in our ability to monitor pollution and pathogens in our waterways." Minch added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Chefs in Dakshina Kannada community kitchens exposed to high levels of particulate matter: Study
A collaborative study on air pollution levels in 15 community kitchens in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka where large-scale cooking is done reveals that chefs are exposed to high levels of particulate matter (PM). The study titled 'Assessment of health risks due to the inhalation of respiratory particulate matter generated in the community kitchens' was carried out by Mangalore University in collaboration with IIT-Bombay and University of Miami, U.S. It was published online in the Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Springer in March 2025. The study was done by K. Sudeep Kumara, a post-doctoral fellow at Mangalore University; N. Karunakara, Coordinator of the Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Radioactivity (CARER), Mangalore University; Y. S. Mayya, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT, Bombay; and Pratim Biswas, Professor, Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, U.S.A. Particulate Matter size fraction Concentration (µg/m³) Concentration (µg/m³) Concentration (µg/m³) WHO (recommended) USEPA (recommended) DK community kitchens (mean value) PM2.5 5 9 111 PM10 15 - 119 WHO – World Health Organisation; USEPA – United States Environmental Protection Agency Source: Mangalore University Advanced real-time air quality monitoring devices (APT-MAXIMA by Applied Particle Technology Inc, USA) that measure particle size distribution from 0.3 µm (micrometre) to >10 µm (micrometre) were used in this study. Continuous and real-time monitoring of PM concentration was performed for 15 to 20 days. The study focused on measuring PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 airborne particles known to penetrate deep into the lungs and then into the bloodstream. The continuous monitoring allowed the researchers to establish the essential database on air pollution levels in community kitchens, for which previous studies were non-existent. The kitchens included in the research served large populations in schools, hostels, restaurants, and mid-day meal programmes, reflecting typical cooking environments in India. The study was implemented by CARER of Mangalore University. Findings of the study The findings revealed that PM concentrations significantly exceeded acceptable air quality standards, especially during cooking hours. The PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations varied in the range of 40-286 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter), 58-418 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter), and 62-434 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter), respectively with corresponding geometric mean values of 74 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter), 111 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter), and 119 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter). 'The study has unveiled the build-up of pollutant concentrations in kitchens characterised by inadequate ventilation,' said Prof. Karunakara. The study also revealed that the exposure to workers is higher in kitchens using solid bio-fuel when compared to other fuels, such as LPG, he said. Health risk assessment Health risk assessments based on the measured data indicated that kitchen workers are exposed to elevated health risks. The findings underscore the importance of effective ventilation systems in reducing inhalation-related health risks and ensuring safer indoor conditions for kitchen workers. It also lays the groundwork for large-scale environmental health monitoring, adaptable to diverse climatic and infrastructural conditions across India and beyond. The observations of the study reveal that the current exhaust systems installed in the community kitchens are not optimal for air cleaning. The study has recommended that the authorities concerned take note of these findings and develop relevant guidelines to improve air quality in community kitchens. The study has recommended that 'a comprehensive, long-term study of indoor air pollution, especially cooking related, to generate a robust database is important'. 'This study is the first-of-its-kind to meticulously investigate the exposure of workers in Indian community kitchens to various size fractions of particulate matter, thereby shedding light on the associated health risks. Notably, India, with the world's largest population, adds significance to the relevance and implications of this research,' he said. Research on societal issues P. L. Dharma, Vice-Chancellor, Mangalore University, said that it is a matter of great satisfaction that the university is actively engaged in research on issues relevant to society, and will continue to undertake such studies in the future as well.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Shocking discovery! 230 giant viruses found lurking in Earth's oceans; scientists say
Source: Yahoo Scientists have uncovered hundreds of new 'giant viruses' also known as ' giruses ', in oceans worldwide. They used advanced computer software to analyse and unravel many types of viruses present in waterways and oceans, and identified 230 unknown giant viruses. This finding is significant as it sheds light on the role of viruses in ocean ecosystems , particularly their impact on microscopic marine organisms like algae and amoeba, which are crucial to the ocean's food chain and health. This research advances our understanding of giant viruses and their role in shaping marine ecosystems. Giant ocean viruses discovered with the power to alter photosynthesis The study published in Nature npj Viruses , titled 'Expansion of the Genomic and Functional Diversity of Global Ocean Giant Viruses', reports the discovery of numerous previously unknown giant genomes and 530 novel functional proteins, significantly expanding the existing scientific understanding of viral diversity in the world's oceans. Notably, nine of these proteins involved photosynthesis , indicating that these viruses may have the ability to manipulate the host's photosynthesis during infection, providing new insights into the interaction between the virus and host, and complex relationships between their biological processes. Source: Yahoo ocean Insights from the study The study revealed that most of the giant viruses belonged to two classifications: Algavirales and Imitervirales. Algavirales, typically 100-200 nanometers in diameter, specialize in infecting photosynthetic algae, while Imitervirales possess a flexible genetic strategy that allows them to potentially survive in a wider variety of hosts. With their enormous genetic material, giant viruses may be able to manipulate their hosts more effectively, making them potentially more problematic than other viruses. Giant viruses have been discovered in various marine environments, with a notable concentration in colder regions. The study found that the Baltic Sea and Antarctic waters are rich reservoirs of these viruses, with 108 and 65 discoveries, respectively. Other locations, such as the Arctic, South Pacific, and North Atlantic, also yielded significant findings. This suggests that many more giant viruses remain to be discovered, particularly in colder marine environments. Source: Yahoo Researchers' take on the study of giant viruses found in ocean Researchers have made significant progress in understanding giant viruses through metagenomic approaches, but much remains to be discovered, particularly in the oceans. A new study used the BEREN tool to uncover 230 novel marine giant virus genomes and 398 partial genomes, providing insights into their functional potential and ecological impact. Mohammad Moniruzzaman, a co-author of the study said, "By better understanding the diversity and role of giant viruses in the ocean and how they interact with algae and other ocean microbes, we can predict and possibly manage harmful algal blooms, which are human health hazards in Florida as well as all over the world.' 'Giant viruses are often the main cause of death for many phytoplankton, which serve as the base of the food web supporting ocean ecosystems and food sources. The novel functions found in giant viruses could have biotechnological potential, as some of these functions might represent novel enzymes'. Another author, Benjamin Minch, said, 'This study allowed us to create a framework to improve existing tools for detecting novel viruses that could aid in our ability to monitor pollution and pathogens in our waterways'. Also read | Moon's volcanic history trapped in tiny glass beads: A valuable clue for NASA
NDTV
4 days ago
- NDTV
Hundreds Of New Giant Viruses Discovered In Global Waters: Study
In a major scientific breakthrough, researchers have discovered hundreds of previously unknown giant viruses in oceans around the world. Led by marine biologist Benjamin Minch and virologist Mohammad Moniruzzaman from the University of Miami, the team used advanced computer software to analyze seawater samples and identify microbial genomes. Among their findings were 230 giant viruses never before documented. These discoveries are significant because they help scientists better understand ocean ecosystems, especially the role of viruses in the lives of microscopic marine organisms called protists. These include algae, amoeba, and flagellates, which are essential to the ocean's food chain and overall health. The study, titled "Expansion of the Genomic and Functional Diversity of Global Ocean Giant Viruses," was published on April 21, 2025, in the journal Nature npj Viruses. It reports the discovery of numerous previously unknown giant virus genomes, significantly expanding the existing scientific understanding of viral diversity in the world's oceans. Within these genomes, 530 new functional proteins were characterized, including nine proteins involved in photosynthesis. This indicates that these viruses may be able to manipulate their host and the photosynthesis process during infection. "By better understanding the diversity and role of giant viruses in the ocean and how they interact with algae and other ocean microbes, we can predict and possibly manage harmful algal blooms, which are human health hazards in Florida as well as all over the world," said Mohammad Moniruzzaman, a co-author of the study and an assistant professor in the Department of Marine Biology and Ecology. "Giant viruses are often the main cause of death for many phytoplankton, which serve as the base of the food web supporting ocean ecosystems and food sources. The novel functions found in giant viruses could have biotechnological potential, as some of these functions might represent novel enzymes." Until recently, giant viruses were largely undetected by scientific methods due to limitations in bioinformatic pipelines. The researchers created an innovative tool called BEREN (Bioinformatic tool for Eukaryotic virus Recovery from Environmental metageNomes), designed to identify giant virus genomes within extensive public DNA sequencing datasets. "We discovered that giant viruses possess genes involved in cellular functions such as carbon metabolism and photosynthesis-traditionally found only in cellular organisms, said Benjamin Minch, the lead author of the study and a doctoral student in the Department of Marine Biology and Ecology at the Rosenstiel School."This suggests that giant viruses play an outsized role in manipulating their host's metabolism during infection and influencing marine biogeochemistry." The authors used the University of Miami's Pegasus supercomputer at the Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing (IDSC) to process and assemble large metagenomes-often exceeding a gigabase per library-enabling the reconstruction of hundreds of microbial community libraries. "This study allowed us to create a framework to improve existing tools for detecting novel viruses that could aid in our ability to monitor pollution and pathogens in our waterways." Minch added.
