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Diversity of Archaea I

Diversity of Archaea I

Archaea, a domain of single-celled microorganisms, are classified into five major phyla based on genetic and biochemical characteristics: Euryarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Korarchaeota, and Nanoarchaeota. Among these, the phylum Euryarchaeota is notable for its remarkable diversity in morphology, metabolism, and ecological adaptations.Morphological and Metabolic DiversityMembers of Euryarchaeota exhibit a variety of cellular shapes, including rods and cocci. Their metabolic pathways...

Diversity of Archaea II

Diversity of Archaea II

Archaea, one of the three domains of life, exhibit remarkable diversity and adaptability, thriving in both extreme and moderate environments. Historically, most identified archaea have been classified into two major phyla: Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. However, recent molecular studies have expanded this classification to include three additional phyla: Thaumarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Korarchaeota, each exhibiting unique characteristics and ecological roles.Thaumarchaeota: Mesophiles...

Diversity of Archaea III

Diversity of Archaea III

Crenarchaeota, a prominent phylum of Archaea, is remarkable for its ability to thrive in extreme environments characterized by high temperatures and acidity. These microorganisms inhabit sulfuric hot springs, volcanic systems, and submarine hydrothermal vents, where temperatures often exceed 100°C. The unique adaptations of Crenarchaeota not only allow survival under such extreme conditions but also provide insights into the mechanisms of life in primordial Earth-like environments.Morphological...

Diversity of Archaea IV

Diversity of Archaea IV

Hyperthermophilic archaea are a group of extremophiles thriving at temperatures above 80°C, often in hydrothermal vents and volcanic soils where conditions surpass the boiling point of water. At such temperatures, proteins, membranes, and DNA in most organisms degrade, but hyperthermophiles have evolved remarkable adaptations to maintain stability and function.Unique Cellular FeaturesHyperthermophilic membranes are composed of a monolayer of biphytanyl tetraether lipids, which resist thermal...

Viruses of Archaea

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Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...

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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 only with...

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

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Published on: December 22, 2014

Exploring the Archaeal Virosphere by Metagenomics.

Yifan Zhou^1,2, Yongjie Wang^3,4,5, David Prangishvili^1,6

¹Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris, France.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)

|December 7, 2023

Summary

Metagenomics reveals the vast diversity of archaeal viruses, which are crucial for global ecosystems but largely unculturable. This study outlines methods for exploring these viruses and their hosts in various environments.

Keywords:

Archaea Archaeal viruses CRISPR spacers Host prediction Major capsid protein Metagenomics Virome

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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Environmental Science
Virology

Background:

Archaea are abundant and ecologically significant globally.
Most archaeal lineages and their viruses remain uncultured, limiting study.
Metagenomics offers a culture-independent approach to viral discovery.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview of methods for archaeal virus metagenomics.
To facilitate the exploration of the uncultured archaeal virosphere.
To aid in characterizing archaeal viruses and their hosts.

Main Methods:

Metavirome preparation.
Genome annotation and phylogenetic analysis.
Archaeal virus-host assignment.

Main Results:

Metagenomics successfully applied to diverse archaeal lineages (e.g., Asgardarchaeota, Methanophagales).
Insights into the diversity and distribution of uncultured archaeal viruses.
Established methods for analyzing archaeal viromes.

Conclusions:

Viral metagenomics is essential for studying uncultured archaeal viruses.
The outlined methods support further exploration of the archaeal virosphere.
Understanding archaeal viruses is key to comprehending microbial ecology.