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Soil Viruses

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Safna Amf
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14 views16 pages

Soil Viruses

Uploaded by

Safna Amf
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SOIL VIRUSES

PRESENTED BY:
HUDA IMTIAZ
TUBA KANWAL
BREKHNA ALAM
WHAT ARE SOIL VIRUSES
HIDDEN PLAYER OF SOIL ECOSYSTEM
Soil viruses are a diverse group of viruses that inhabit soil ecosystems and play
crucial roles in regulating microbial populations, nutrient cycling, and overall soil
health

TYPES OF SOIL VIRUSES

• bacteriophage • plant viruses • protozoa viruses • Fungal viruses

.
ECOLOGIAL ROLE OF
SOIL VIRUS
IMPACT ON NUTRIENT CYCLING
1. Nutrient release
2. Carbon cycling
3. Phosphorus cycling

IMPACT ON SOIL HEALTH


• Soil fertility
• Plant health
• Soil structure and health
VIRUS-MICROBE INTERACTION
EFFECT OF VIRUS LYSIS

1. Population control
2. Nutrient release
3. Soil structure
4. Ecosystem resilience
SOIL VIRUSES AND CARBON
CYCLING
Soil viruses, particularly bacteriophages and mycoviruses,
play significant roles in the carbon cycle within soil
ecosystems.
Role of viruses in the carbon cycle: Influence of viral activity on greenhouse gas
1. Breakdown of organic matter emission
When viruses infect and lyse microbial cells 1. Carbon dioxide emissions
(bacteria, fungi, protozoa), they release cellular By lysing microbial cells, viruses release organic carbon
contents, including organic carbon compounds, into that other soil microbes can metabolize. This increased
the soil. microbial activity can lead to higher respiration rates,
2. Carbon sequestration resulting in more CO2 emissions from the soil.
By influencing microbial community dynamics, soil 2. Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
viruses can indirectly affect soil organic carbon Emissions
stabilization. Stable microbial communities contribute Lysis of methanotrophs can increase CH4 emissions,
to forming soil aggregates and humic substances, while lysis of methanogens can decrease CH4
which sequester carbon in the soil for longer periods. production. Lysis of nitrifiers can reduce nitrification, and
lysis of denitrifiers can either decrease or increase N2O
production, depending on the environmental conditions.
Viruses as microbial evolution

Soil viruses shape microbial communities by transferring genes


between microbes
• These genes can confer ecological advantages,
• such as,Enhanced nutrient cycling
• Increased resistance to environmental stressors
• Improved symbiotic relationships
•
Gene Transfer Mechanisms:
Viral-mediated gene transfer (VMGT) allows for the exchange of
genes between microbes and viruses
Process can occur through various mechanisms, including:
Viral capsid-mediated gene transfer
• Viral-encoded enzymes for gene transfer
Soil viruses in agriculture ecosystem

• Soil viruses, or bacteriophages, are viruses that infect bacteria within


soil ecosystems
•
• Impact on Soil Microbiology:
• Nutrient Cycling: Viruses contribute to the release of nutrients by
lysing bacterial cells, facilitating nutrient availability for plants.
• Bacterial Population Control: Regulate bacterial populations,
preventing any single species from dominating and maintaining
microbial diversity.
Gene Transfer: Facilitate horizontal gene transfer among bacteria,
contributing to genetic diversity and potential evolution of beneficial
traits.

Agricultural Benefits:
Enhance soil health by promoting a balanced microbial community.
Disease Suppression: Potentially control soil-borne bacterial
pathogens, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
Impact of Environmental changes on microbes
Meta genomic approaches to studying viral ecology

• DNA extraction
• Sequencing
• Bio informatics analysis
Application
• Biodiversity assessment
• Functional analysis
• Environmental monitoring
Soil Viruses and
Disease Suppression
Soil viruses play a significant role in
controlling soil borne diseases by
modulating microbial communities.

Mechanisms:
• Viral predation on pathogenic microbes reduces their
population density.
• Viral infections can alter microbial interactions and
suppress disease-causing organisms.
Potential Applications in Sustainable
Agriculture
Soil viruses, particularly bacteriophages, can be used as
biocontrol agents against soil borne plant pathogens.

Advantages:
• Targeted approach without harming
beneficial microbes.
• Reduced reliance on chemical pesticides,
promoting sustainable agricultural
practices.
Role of Soil Viruses in Carbon
Cycling
Soil viruses significantly impact carbon cycling
through their interactions with soil microbes.

Key Processes
•Lysis of Microbial Cells: When viruses infect and lyse microbial
cells, they release organic carbon and nutrients into the soil.
•Regulation of Microbial Activity: This viral lysis influences the
decomposition rates of organic matter and the overall carbon
turnover in the soil.
Case Studies
Soil viral communities exhibit diversity and
specificity across various ecosystems.

Forest Viral Desert Viral Wetland Viral


Community Community Community in
in Amazon in Sahara Everglades,
Rainforest, Desert, Florida, USA
Brazil Africa

•Description: Investigation of •Description: Study of viral diversity •Description: Analysis of viral


viral communities in the Amazon and dynamics in the arid soil of the communities thriving in the
rainforest soil. Sahara desert. nutrient-rich wetland soils of the
•Ecological Impact: Viruses play •Ecological Impact: Viral interactions Everglades.
with microbial communities affect soil •Ecological Impact: Viral
a crucial role in the
decomposition of organic stability, nutrient availability, and regulation of methane-producing
matter, influencing nutrient water retention in desert ecosystems. microbes influences greenhouse
cycling and soil fertility. gas emissions and wetland
ecosystem dynamics.
Ecological Impacts and Functional Roles
Soil viral communities play diverse roles in
ecosystem functioning.

Amazon Sahara Everglades


Rainforest Desert Wetlands

•Functional Role: Viruses •Functional Role: Viral


•Functional Role: Viruses
regulate microbial populations, interactions with methane-
contribute to the breakdown
influencing soil stability, and producing microbes impact
of plant material, facilitating
nutrient availability in arid greenhouse gas emissions a
nutrient cycling and
environments. wetland ecosystem health.
supporting plant growth.
Biotechnological Applications of Soil
Viruses
Soil viruses offer potential for various biotechnological
innovations.

Environmental Remediation Bioengineering Novel Biotechnological


•Exploiting viral vectors for gene delivery
Applications
•Utilizing viruses to target and
degrade pollutants in soil and genetic manipulation. •Exploring emerging applications such
environments. •Example: Soil viruses used as vectors as nanotechnology and drug delivery
•Example: Bacteriophages for gene therapy or genetic modification systems.
engineered to target specific in agricultural biotechnology. •Example: Engineering soil viruses
pollutants, aiding in for targeted drug delivery or as
environmental cleanup efforts. carriers for nanoparticles in medical or
environmental applications.
THANK YOU!

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