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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Purifying the Impure: Sequencing Metagenomes and Metatranscriptomes from Complex Animal-associated Samples

Purifying the Impure: Sequencing Metagenomes and Metatranscriptomes from Complex Animal-associated Samples

Published on: December 22, 2014

Exploring the viral world through metagenomics.

Karyna Rosario¹, Mya Breitbart

¹University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, 140 7th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, USA.

Current Opinion in Virology

|March 24, 2012

Summary

Viral metagenomics, or shotgun sequencing of viral particles, reveals previously unknown viruses in diverse environments. This powerful technique enhances our understanding of viral ecology, evolution, and host interactions.

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Area of Science:

Environmental virology
Genomics
Ecology

Background:

Cultured viruses are poorly representative of environmental viral communities.
Viral metagenomics enables exploration of viral diversity across the biosphere.
Existing sequence databases lack representation of dominant environmental viruses.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore viral communities in various environmental samples.
To understand the genetic potential and structure of environmental viruses.
To uncover novel virus-host interactions and viral genes.

Main Methods:

Shotgun sequencing of purified viral particles (viral metagenomics).
Analysis of genetic material from diverse environmental samples.
Bioinformatic analysis for community structure and gene identification.

Main Results:

Identified dominant viruses in environmental communities not found in databases.
Elucidated viral ecology, including community structure and biogeography.
Discovered genes involved in virus-host interactions and host manipulation.

Conclusions:

Viral metagenomics is revolutionizing environmental virology.
This approach expands knowledge of viral diversity, ecology, and evolution.
Virus discovery through metagenomics has broad applications in biology and biotechnology.