Scientists have discovered hundreds of mysterious giant viruses in oceans around the world

Scientists have discovered hundreds of unknown giant viruses in the World Ocean, including 230 completely new varieties

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to Gazeta.ru, researchers from the University of Miami have made a breakthrough in virology, the results of which are published in the prestigious journal Nature npj Viruses.

Giant viruses, named for their impressive size and genetic complexity, turned out to be much more diverse than previously thought. During the large-scale study, scientists not only identified 230 new viral species but also discovered 569 proteins previously unknown to science. Of particular interest were nine proteins involved in the process of photosynthesis.

The surprising discovery showed that some viruses are capable of "capturing" the photosynthetic mechanisms of their hosts, such as phytoplankton, using them for their own survival. Considering that phytoplankton produces a significant portion of the planet's oxygen and is the foundation of marine food chains, these viruses can have a colossal impact on the global ecosystem.

The breakthrough was made possible thanks to the collaborative work of marine biologist Benjamin Minch and virologist Mohammad Muniruzzaman, who applied innovative software to analyze seawater samples. The new viruses were found near the simplest marine organisms — algae, amoebas, and flagellates — and, as it turned out, play a key role in the life of the oceanic ecosystem.

"If we better understand how giant viruses interact with algae and other ocean microbes, we can more accurately predict and possibly control harmful algal blooms that pose a threat to human health both in Florida and worldwide," explained Muniruzzaman.

Scientists classified most of the new viruses into two already known groups - Imitervirales and Algavirales. The first of these is distinguished by particularly complex genetics and the ability to adapt to various types of hosts.

"We found that giant viruses have genes responsible for cellular functions - such as carbon metabolism and photosynthesis - which were previously thought to be characteristic only of living cells," concluded Minch.

According to the researchers, we are only beginning to understand the scale of viral diversity in the oceans. Each milliliter of seawater contains thousands of viruses, and many of them are yet to be discovered. New analysis methods developed as part of this research could become an important tool in monitoring pollution and pathogens in the aquatic environment.