Highly diverse and unknown viruses may enhance Antarctic endoliths’ adaptability ...

• Main Authors: Ettinger, Cassandra L., Saunders, Morgan, Selbmann, Laura, Delgado-Baquerizo, Manuel, Donati, Claudio, Albanese, Davide, Roux, Simon, Tringe, Susannah, Pennacchio, Christa, del Rio, Tijana G., Stajich, Jason E., Coleine, Claudia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2023
• Subjects: Microbiology; FOS Biological sciences; Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6638303; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Highly_diverse_and_unknown_viruses_may_enhance_Antarctic_endoliths_adaptability/6638303

Abstract Background Rock-dwelling microorganisms are key players in ecosystem functioning of Antarctic ice free-areas. Yet, little is known about their diversity and ecology, and further still, viruses in these communities have been largely unexplored despite important roles related to host metabolism and nutrient cycling. To begin to address this, we present a large-scale viral catalog from Antarctic rock microbial communities. Results We performed metagenomic analyses on rocks from across Antarctica representing a broad range of environmental and spatial conditions, and which resulted in a predicted viral catalog comprising > 75,000 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUS). We found largely undescribed, highly diverse and spatially structured virus communities which had predicted auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) with functions indicating that they may be potentially influencing bacterial adaptation and biogeochemistry. Conclusion This catalog lays the foundation for expanding knowledge of virosphere ...