Unveiling the viral diversity in coastal sediments: Metagenomic insights along the Kerala coast, Southern India
摘要
Viruses play a critical role in microbial communities and biogeochemical cycles, yet they remain underexplored in many environments. Coastal sediments, particularly in beach ecosystems, are essential in regulating microbial populations, influencing nutrient cycling, and facilitating ecological interactions between terrestrial and marine systems. This study employed metagenomic approaches and whole-genome sequencing to investigate the viral community in coastal sediments along the Kerala coast, Southern India, revealing ~40 viral families. Among the most abundant were the newly described Schitoviridae family and Vibriophages, with one particular operational taxonomic unit (OTU) dominating the community. Despite the high viral richness, the community exhibited low evenness, with implications for the structure and function of the viral community. The study also highlighted the ecological significance of giant viruses and their potential roles in marine ecosystems. Some viral groups were linked to terrestrial sources, illustrating the interconnectedness of marine and terrestrial viral populations. Furthermore, a complete genome sequence of Vibriophage was generated, adding to the growing catalogue of marine viral genomes. This investigation provides a foundational understanding of viral diversity in coastal ecosystems and establishes a baseline for future research on the ecological roles of viruses. It underscores the need for further exploration of unexplored viral communities in coastal sediments, which could enhance our understanding of viral ecology and their impact on ecosystem dynamics.