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Viruses as Winners in the Game of Life

Viruses as Winners in the Game of Life Viruses are the most abundant and the most diverse life form. In this meta-analysis we estimate that there are 4.80×10 31 phages on Earth. Further, 97% of viruses are in soil and sediment—two underinvestigated biomes that combined account for only ∼2.5% of publicly available viral metagenomes. The majority of the most abundant viral sequences from all biomes are novel. Our analysis drawing on all publicly available viral metagenomes observed a mere 257,698 viral genotypes on Earth—an unrealistically low number—which attests to the current paucity of viral metagenomic data. Further advances in viral ecology and diversity call for a shift of attention to previously ignored major biomes and careful application of verified methods for viral metagenomic analysis. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Annual Review of Virology Annual Reviews

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References (87)

Publisher
Annual Reviews
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved
ISSN
2327-056X
eISSN
2327-0578
DOI
10.1146/annurev-virology-100114-054952
pmid
27741409
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Viruses are the most abundant and the most diverse life form. In this meta-analysis we estimate that there are 4.80×10 31 phages on Earth. Further, 97% of viruses are in soil and sediment—two underinvestigated biomes that combined account for only ∼2.5% of publicly available viral metagenomes. The majority of the most abundant viral sequences from all biomes are novel. Our analysis drawing on all publicly available viral metagenomes observed a mere 257,698 viral genotypes on Earth—an unrealistically low number—which attests to the current paucity of viral metagenomic data. Further advances in viral ecology and diversity call for a shift of attention to previously ignored major biomes and careful application of verified methods for viral metagenomic analysis.

Journal

Annual Review of VirologyAnnual Reviews

Published: Sep 29, 2016

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