EEB Tuesday Lunch Seminar/student evaluation: Resolving connections between viruses and biogeochemical cycling

Join us for our weekly brown bag lunch seminar

Abstract
Quantifying the effects of viruses on microbial biogeochemical cycling in marine ecosystems remains a challenge because viral diversity is still mostly uncharacterized, viral genomes are highly mosaic, and ocean microbial communities and their interactions are complex. Approximately 20% of all ocean microbes are killed by viruses each day. These viruses regulate host populations, transfer genes between hosts, and modulate host metabolism. Viruses may also carry genes called auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) that enable them to enhance host metabolism by completing metabolic pathways or upregulating pre-existing pathways. AMGs are one observable interface between viruses and biogeochemical cycling. I proposed using AMGs as a proxy to resolve the challenge of quantifying the effects of viruses on microbial biogeochemical cycling. In this talk, I will describe how my research will elucidate interplay between viruses and microbial biogeochemical cycling in marine systems. Specifically, I will i) explain the genetic foundation of viral-mediated host metabolism, ii) explore the breadth and depth of AMGs, and iii) present experiments that connect active AMGs and carbon degradation in pelagic oceans.