Marine viruses are the most prevalent biological entities in the oceans and can infect any life form, from microbes to whales. Marine viruses contribute to the evolution of life on our planet. They are key drivers of host diversity, mediate the transfer of genetic material between organisms, affect population dynamics in organisms, and drive biogeochemical cycling, contributing to the daily flux of billions of tons of organic matter.
The abundance of marine viruses mirrors the diversity of viral genomes and morphotypes. Each marine organism is infected by multiple host-specific viruses, highlighting the diversity of the interactions between marine viruses and their hosts in the ocean. Since the first phage was isolated from the marine environment more than 60 years ago, the number of newly found viruses had increased sharply due to the advent of genomic and metagenomic techniques. A thorough phylogeny and distribution map of marine viruses should eventually be constructed, despite its complexity. Advanced and innovative methods need to be developed, facilitating the exploration of marine viruses.
The main goal of this Research Topic is to innovate marine virus identification methods, explore novel marine viruses and their specialized host, elaborate on their diverse life strategies in the ocean, and reveal their roles in the stabilization of the ocean ecosystem.
Articles regarding, but not limited to, the following themes are preferred:
• The identification of novel marine viruses, their specialized hosts, and potential risk in a systematic, evolutionary or biogeographical context.
• Innovative methods in the exploration of marine viruses.
• Evolution and epidemic on marine viruses
• Mechanisms of the interaction between marine viruses and their special hosts.
• Gene transfer mediated by marine viruses.
• Viral abundance fluctuation under climate change, and further influences on the population dynamics in marine organisms.
• The role of marine viruses in biogeochemical cycling.
Marine viruses are the most prevalent biological entities in the oceans and can infect any life form, from microbes to whales. Marine viruses contribute to the evolution of life on our planet. They are key drivers of host diversity, mediate the transfer of genetic material between organisms, affect population dynamics in organisms, and drive biogeochemical cycling, contributing to the daily flux of billions of tons of organic matter.
The abundance of marine viruses mirrors the diversity of viral genomes and morphotypes. Each marine organism is infected by multiple host-specific viruses, highlighting the diversity of the interactions between marine viruses and their hosts in the ocean. Since the first phage was isolated from the marine environment more than 60 years ago, the number of newly found viruses had increased sharply due to the advent of genomic and metagenomic techniques. A thorough phylogeny and distribution map of marine viruses should eventually be constructed, despite its complexity. Advanced and innovative methods need to be developed, facilitating the exploration of marine viruses.
The main goal of this Research Topic is to innovate marine virus identification methods, explore novel marine viruses and their specialized host, elaborate on their diverse life strategies in the ocean, and reveal their roles in the stabilization of the ocean ecosystem.
Articles regarding, but not limited to, the following themes are preferred:
• The identification of novel marine viruses, their specialized hosts, and potential risk in a systematic, evolutionary or biogeographical context.
• Innovative methods in the exploration of marine viruses.
• Evolution and epidemic on marine viruses
• Mechanisms of the interaction between marine viruses and their special hosts.
• Gene transfer mediated by marine viruses.
• Viral abundance fluctuation under climate change, and further influences on the population dynamics in marine organisms.
• The role of marine viruses in biogeochemical cycling.