新工具发现230种海洋巨型病毒

Core Insights - Scientists at the University of Miami developed an innovative bioinformatics tool named BEREN, which identified 230 new giant viruses from ocean metagenomic datasets and characterized their functions [1][3] Group 1: Research Findings - The tool BEREN efficiently identifies giant virus genomes from large public DNA sequencing datasets, addressing previous limitations in bioinformatics processes [3] - The research revealed that these giant virus genomes contain 530 new functional proteins, with 9 involved in photosynthesis, indicating potential manipulation of host photosynthesis during infection [3] Group 2: Ecological Impact - Giant viruses play a crucial role in the survival of single-celled marine organisms, which are foundational to the ocean food web, including algae, amoebas, and flagellates [3] - The study highlights the potential for giant DNA viruses to trigger harmful algal blooms, impacting human health due to their role in the food chain [3] Group 3: Technological Advancements - The research utilized the "Pegasus" supercomputer at the University of Miami to process and assemble extensive metagenomic data, reconstructing hundreds of microbial community datasets [3] - This study establishes a new framework for detecting novel viruses, which may aid in identifying pollutants and pathogens in waterways in the future [3]