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The human body harbors a vast and diverse viral community known as the human virome. The virome includes bacteriophages that infect bacteria, and eukaryotic viruses that infect human cells. Transient dietary and environmental viruses also contribute to this dynamic ecosystem. Estimates suggest the human body may contain on the order of 10¹³ viral particles, though abundance varies widely by body site and detection method.Comprehensive characterization of the virome has become possible...
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The ecological virus.

Maureen A O'Malley1

  • 1CIRID/ALYSAI, University of Bordeaux, France.

Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
|March 15, 2016
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Viruses are increasingly recognized as crucial ecological actors, influencing global food webs and biogeochemical cycles like carbon and nitrogen. This research highlights their significant role, comparable to organisms, in planetary processes.

Keywords:
BiogeochemistryBiological agencyMarine food websMarine microbial ecologyVirus ecology

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Virology
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • Traditionally, viruses are not considered organisms and are viewed as part of the environment.
  • Recent research since the late 1980s challenges this view, investigating viruses as significant ecological players.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the historical development of virus ecology.
  • To analyze the implications of large-scale ecological modeling involving viruses.
  • To argue for conceptualizing viruses as key ecological actors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of micrographic, experimental, molecular, and theoretical research.
  • Analysis of large-scale ecological modeling.
  • Examination of viruses' roles in food webs and biogeochemical cycles.

Main Results:

  • Viruses, particularly phage, are integral to critical global food webs.
  • Viruses regulate essential planetary biogeochemical cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus).
  • Viruses demonstrate significant ecological agency, comparable to organisms.

Conclusions:

  • Viruses should be conceptualized as major ecological actors, not just environmental components.
  • Understanding virus ecology is crucial for comprehending global life processes.
  • Ecological agency can be distinct from traditional biological agency.