Viral Transmission in the Dynamic Environment of Surface Microlayers and Rainwater (VIRTIDE)

Sitting at the boundary between atmosphere and hydrosphere or by forming integral parts of the atmosphere themselves, viruses of bacteria (phages) likely make a crucial contribution to climate-relevant processes and carbon cycling (by lysis of abundant hosts), as well as to human health (by spreading resistance genes).

Despite this, phages from the sea-surface microlayer at the air-sea interface being part of a community referred as neuston have been mostly neglected. In addition, very little is known about phages from the atmosphere.

The project VIRTIDE addresses important research questions regarding a) the temporal-spatial dynamics of viral-bacterial assemblages and viral function as reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes in visible marine surface films (“slicks”) and b) the nature, abundance, and sources of atmospheric phages and their potential for infecting sea surface microbiota after deposition with rainwater.

This will be achieved by combining state-of-the-art techniques including metagenomics, virus-host infection histories inferred from CRISPR systems, flow cytometry and cultivation.

By filling these knowledge gaps, the project will make an important contribution to understand the ecology of viruses in understudied aquatic ecosystems.

Unravelling the viral role in dispersal processes will unfold societal value by making steps towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting human health.