Integrating viruses into soil food web biogeochemistry

Carreira, Catia; Lonborg, Christian; Acharya, Basistha; Aryal, Laxman; Buivydaite, Zivile; Correa, Felipe Borim; Chen, Tingting; Elberg, Christine Lorenzen; Emerson, Joanne B.; Hillary, Luke; Khadka, Ram B.; Langlois, Valerie; Mason-Jones, Kyle; Netherway, Tarquin; Sutela, Suvi; Trubl, Gareth; Wa Kangeri, Arno; Wang, Ruiqi; White III, Richard Allen; Winding, Anne; Zhao, Tianci; Sapkota, Rumakanta

doi:10.1038/s41564-024-01767-x

Review article2024Peer reviewed

Integrating viruses into soil food web biogeochemistry

Carreira, Catia; Lonborg, Christian; Acharya, Basistha; Aryal, Laxman; Buivydaite, Zivile; Correa, Felipe Borim; Chen, Tingting; Elberg, Christine Lorenzen; Emerson, Joanne B.; Hillary, Luke; Khadka, Ram B.; Langlois, Valerie; Mason-Jones, Kyle; Netherway, Tarquin; Sutela, Suvi; Trubl, Gareth; Wa Kangeri, Arno; Wang, Ruiqi; White III, Richard Allen; Winding, Anne; Zhao, Tianci; Sapkota, Rumakanta
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Abstract

The soil microbiome is recognized as an essential component of healthy soils. Viruses are also diverse and abundant in soils, but their roles in soil systems remain unclear. Here we argue for the consideration of viruses in soil microbial food webs and describe the impact of viruses on soil biogeochemistry. The soil food web is an intricate series of trophic levels that span from autotrophic microorganisms to plants and animals. Each soil system encompasses contrasting and dynamic physicochemical conditions, with labyrinthine habitats composed of particles. Conditions are prone to shifts in space and time, and this variability can obstruct or facilitate interactions of microorganisms and viruses. Because viruses can infect all domains of life, they must be considered as key regulators of soil food web dynamics and biogeochemical cycling. We highlight future research avenues that will enable a more robust understanding of the roles of viruses in soil function and health.Viruses can infect all domains of life and must therefore be considered as key regulators of ecological interactions that span from microorganisms to higher trophic levels.

Published in

Nature microbiology
2024, volume: 9, number: 8, pages: 1918–1928
Publisher: NATURE PORTFOLIO

SLU Authors

Netherway, Tarquin
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Soil Science

Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01767-x

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/131682