Viral Metagenomic Library from 200m Depth in Monterey Bay
Author Information
Author(s): Steward Grieg, Preston Christina M
Primary Institution: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Hypothesis
The genetic diversity of viral assemblages in deeper ocean waters is poorly described.
Conclusion
Direct cloning of DNA from diverse marine viruses was feasible and resulted in a distribution of virus types and functional genes at depth that were broadly similar to those found in surface marine waters.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 26% of the sequences had significant BLAST hits to known sequences.
- 74% of sequences had significant matches when including environmental sequences.
- 94% of sequences with significant hits to known viruses matched bacteriophages.
Takeaway
Scientists collected water from deep in the ocean to study viruses, and they found many different types of viruses that are similar to those found near the surface.
Methodology
Viruses were purified from seawater, DNA was extracted and cloned without prior amplification, and sequences were analyzed using BLAST.
Potential Biases
Potential contamination with bacterial DNA and the presence of gene-transfer agents could affect results.
Limitations
There may be biases introduced during the harvesting process, and the library may not represent all viral diversity due to losses during filtration.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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