Viral populations in Tongyeong Bay, Korea, revealed by metagenomics

Abstract

Viruses are ubiquitously present in most environments, from the air to the deep sea. In particular, the oceans possess numerous viruses. In this study, we examined viral communities in Goseong Bay, Korea, using metagenomics. For this, we collected seawater samples from six different sites in March 2014. Enrichment of marine viral particles using FeCl3 followed by next-generation sequencing produced numerous sequences. De novo assembly and BLAST search showed that most obtained contigs were unknown sequences and only 0.74% sequences were associated with known viruses. As a result, 138 viruses, including bacteriophages (87%) and viruses infecting algae (13%), were identified. The identified 138 viruses were divided into 11 orders, 14 families, 34 genera, and 133 species. The dominant viruses were Pelagibacter phage HTVC010P and Roseobacter phage SIO1. The viruses infecting algae, including the Ostreococcus species, accounted for 9.4% of total identified viruses. In addition, we identified pathogenic herpes viruses infecting fishes and giant viruses infecting parasite acanthamoeba species. Taken together, this is the first comprehensive study to reveal the viral populations in the Goseong Bay using metagenomics. Our study examines not only the viral diversity of Goseong Bay, but also the possible roles of identified viruses as contributors in the marine ecosystem and evolution.llected seawater samples from six different sites in March 2014. Enrichment of marine viral particles using FeCl3 followed by next-generation sequencing produced numerous sequences. De novo assembly and BLAST search showed that most obtained contigs were unknown sequences and only 0.74% sequences were associated with known viruses. As a result, 138 viruses, including bacteriophages (87%) and viruses infecting algae (13%), were identified. The identified 138 viruses were divided into 11 orders, 14 families, 34 genera, and 133 species. The dominant viruses were Pelagibacter phage HTVC010P and Roseobacter phage SIO1. The viruses infecting algae, including the Ostreococcus species, accounted for 9.4% of total identified viruses. In addition, we identified pathogenic herpes viruses infecting fishes and giant viruses infecting parasite acanthamoeba species. Taken together, this is the first comprehensive study to reveal the viral populations in the Goseong Bay using metagenomics. Our study examines not only the viral diversity of Goseong Bay, but also the possible roles of identified viruses as contributors in the marine ecosystem and evolution.