Nearly 17 million sequences were used in a comparative metagenomic approach of 45 microbiomes and viriomes from distinct environments. Although core metabolic traits were represented in microbial genomes from all environments, differences could be correlated with biogeochemical condition. The analysis also revealed a surprising array of viral metabolic capabilities, suggesting that viruses may serve as a gene pool.
- Elizabeth A. Dinsdale
- Robert A. Edwards
- Forest Rohwer
