Unveiling the unknown viral world in groundwater

Zongzhi Wu ^1,2, Tang Liu ^1,3, Qian Chen ^1,2

⁰Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China.

Nature Communications +

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August 8, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This study unveils the vast, unknown groundwater virome in China, discovering millions of novel viruses and expanding our understanding of microbial host interactions and nutrient cycling in aquifers.

Area Of Science

Environmental microbiology
Virology
Geomicrobiology

Background

Viruses are crucial biological entities but remain poorly understood in subterranean environments.
Groundwater ecosystems harbor a significant, yet largely uncharacterized, viral component.

Purpose Of The Study

To establish the first comprehensive metagenomic Groundwater Virome Catalogue (GWVC) from diverse Chinese aquifers.
To characterize the novelty and diversity of groundwater viruses and their microbial hosts.
To investigate the role of viruses in nutrient cycling and microbial community structure within groundwater.

Main Methods

Metagenomic sequencing of viral DNA from 607 groundwater wells across seven geo-environmental zones in China.
Bioinformatic analysis to identify viral species, clusters, and potential hosts.
Comparative analysis with existing global viral databases.

Main Results

The Groundwater Virome Catalogue (GWVC) comprises 280,420 viral species (≥5 kb), expanding the known global groundwater virome by approximately tenfold.
Over 99% of identified viruses and 95% of viral clusters are novel, highlighting extensive undiscovered viral diversity.
Virus-host interactions were established across 119 prokaryotic phyla, doubling the known range of virus-infected microbial phyla in groundwater.
CPR bacteria and DPANN archaea, key ultrasmall symbionts, are significantly infected by viruses.
Viruses associated with methane, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus cycling were identified, revealing their role in auxiliary metabolism.

Conclusions

The study reveals a vast and largely novel viral world within groundwater ecosystems.
Groundwater viruses play a critical role in regulating microbial communities and biogeochemical cycles, particularly in aquifers.
This research underscores the importance of the subsurface virosphere in global viral ecology and microbial evolution.