A never-before-seen virus was discovered in the deepest part of the earth – the Mariana Trench.
11,000 meters below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, at its lowest point, the dark depths of the trench between Indonesia and Japan are home to a variety of strange and wonderful creatures, including fisherman and goblin sharks.
It is also home to billions of microscopic bacteria, some of which are infected with newly discovered viruses.
The doctor who led the exploration of the new hole. “Where there is life, rest assured that there are regulators,” said Ming Wang. “In this case, a virus.”
The virus found in sediment collected at a depth of 8,900 meters is a bacteriophage, which literally means "bacteria eater". This virus infects bacteria and reproduces, but does not kill its host. When a bacterial cell divides, the virus's genetic material is copied and passed on.
This means that the new discovery does not pose a threat to humans because it does not attack human cells.
“To our knowledge, this is the deepest known isolated phage in the world's oceans,” said Dr. Wang.
Bacteriophages are considered the most common form of life on Earth, although there is still debate over whether viruses are viable.
The new virus, named vB_HmeY_H4907, infects a group of bacteria known as Halomonas, which are often found in deep sea sediments and hydrothermal vents that release hot water onto the sea floor.
Dr Wang said the findings lead to new questions and areas of research that focus on the survival strategies of viruses in harsh and isolated environments and how viruses co-evolve with their hosts.
The team discovered the new virus through DNA analysis, which showed that it was only distantly related to other viruses.
This study also shows the presence of a previously unknown family of viruses called Suviridae in deep ocean waters (possibly outside the trench).
The search for other new viruses in extreme locations continues, “which could help expand our understanding of the virosphere,” the doctor said. Wang:
“Extreme conditions offer optimal prospects for discovering new viruses.”
This study was published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum.
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