About 12,000 viruses previously unknown to science discovered in the deep ocean

A large-scale study published in Nature Communications has revealed about 12,000 new-to-science viruses on the Pacific Ocean floor, in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone. Researchers mapped DNA and RNA samples and found a unique variety of viruses unrelated to terrestrial viruses. The findings raise questions about the impact of deep-sea mining on the delicate ecosystem.

A new large-scale study, published in the journal Nature Communications, has revealed about 12,000 completely new-to-science viruses on the Pacific Ocean floor. Scientists from China collected deep-sea samples from the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, mapped their DNA and RNA, and discovered a vast diversity of unique viruses that have almost no connection to terrestrial viruses. These viruses attack bacteria and single-celled organisms that manage the cycle of materials and metals on the seafloor, and may provide them with genetic tools to cope with high levels of metals. The area itself is rich in mineral nodules of cobalt, nickel, and lithium, essential for the electronics and battery industries, and the international race for deep-sea mining is underway. The researchers warn that commercial mining could raise clouds of mud and sediment that would pollute the environment and disrupt the ecological balance for decades, calling for a deep understanding of the role of microorganisms and viruses before irreversible changes are made.