Nearly 200,000 unknown viruses are discovered hidden in the depths of the world's oceans

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Nearly 200,000 unknown viruses are discovered hidden in the depths of the world's oceans

  • Scientists have discovered 195 728 viruses in the oceans around the world
  • Infectious pathogens have been discovered during a global expedition of marine life
  • Most are safe for human life but can infect marine life such as whales and fish
  • The large number of viruses could be a positive factor because it was thought that the conditions caused by climate change would not be conducive to life.

By Victoria Bell for Mailonline

Published on: 12:25 EDT, April 29, 2019 | Update: 12:35 EDT, April 29, 2019

According to one study, nearly 200,000 different viruses are hiding in the depths of the oceans around the world.

This incredible amount of viral life has been found in five ocean regions, known as distinct ecological zones, located throughout the Arctic and Antarctic oceans, as well as in some warmer ocean depths.

The scientists said that most of the viruses had never been seen before and that this study had revealed 12 times more viruses than those known so far.

The results of 195,728 viruses could also reveal how pathogens affect ocean ecosystems.

Most viruses have proven to be harmless to humans but could also infect marine life such as whales and fish.

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195,728 viruses were discovered in five distinct ecological zones covering all the depths of the Arctic and Antarctic, and three distinct depths of temperate and tropical regions. This map shows where in the world they found the viruses

195,728 viruses were discovered in five distinct ecological zones covering all the depths of the Arctic and Antarctic, and three distinct depths of temperate and tropical regions. This map shows where in the world they found the viruses

The study also suggests that this could help researchers discover how to tackle climate change in bioengineering the ocean

Five distinct ecological zones around the world have been identified, including all the depths of the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as three distinct depths of temperate and tropical regions.

The discoveries were made during a pole-to-pole sea expedition and lasted more than ten years on a ship called Tara.

It has been used to collect ocean samples at depths up to 4,000 meters.

The samples were filtered and sent to laboratories that are part of an effort known as the Tara Oceans Consortium.

They identified new strains by analyzing other microbes and living creatures found in the ocean and comparing their specimens.

Marine organisms produce half of the oxygen that humans breathe, and the ocean removes half of the carbon dioxide that man emits into the atmosphere.

New research helps scientists more accurately calculate the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

More life in the oceans means more CO2 can be converted into organic carbon and biomass – rather than CO2 acidifying the oceans, the study said.

Thanks to this research, scientists could manipulate viruses to remove even more carbon dioxide from the air, thus combating climate change. The discoveries were made during a pole-to-pole sea expedition and lasted more than ten years on a ship called Tara (stock).

Thanks to this research, scientists could manipulate viruses to remove even more carbon dioxide from the air, thus combating climate change. The discoveries were made during a pole-to-pole sea expedition and lasted more than ten years on a ship called Tara (stock).

Thanks to this research, scientists could manipulate viruses to remove even more carbon dioxide from the air, thus combating climate change.

Microbiologist Matthew Sullivan, of Ohio State University, participated in the research and explained: "Having a new map showing the location of these viruses can help us understand this ocean carbon" pump "and, more broadly, the biogeochemistry that impacts the planet.

"Models of earlier ocean ecosystems had generally ignored microbes and rarely included viruses, but we now know that they are an essential element to include."

The research was published in the journal Cell.

HOW DO VIRUSES WORK?

A viral particle, or virion, is composed of three parts: a set of genetic instructions, DNA or RNA; protein layer that surrounds DNA or RNA to protect it; a lipid membrane that surrounds the protein envelope.

Unlike human cells or bacteria, viruses do not contain the chemical machinery called enzymes needed to carry out chemical reactions to divide and spread.

They carry only one or two enzymes that decode their genetic instructions and need a host cell, such as a bacterium, plant or animal, to live on and produce more viruses.

When a virus infects a living cell, it deflects it and reprograms it into a plant producing the virus.

The proteins present on the virus interact with receptors specific to the target cell.

The virus then inserts its genetic code into the target cell, while its own DNA is degraded.

The target cell is then "hijacked", it starts using the genetic code of the virus as a model to produce more viruses.

The cell eventually explodes to release new, intact viruses that then infect other cells and restart the process.

Once released from the host cell, new viruses can attack other cells.

Because a virus can replicate thousands of new viruses, viral infections can spread quickly throughout the body.

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