Moisture matters for viruses in soil

Moisture matters for viruses in soil
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The majority of transcribed DNA viruses were bacteriophages, but some were assigned to eukaryotic hosts, mainly insects. Higher soil moisture increased transcription of a subset of DNA viruses. The soil also had a high abundance of RNA viruses, with highest representation of Reoviridae. Leviviridae were the most diverse RNA viruses in the samples, with higher amounts in wet soil. The protein data revealed that viral chaperonins, known to be essential for virion replication and assembly, were produced in soil. The soil viral chaperonins were phylogenetically distinct from previously described marine viral chaperonins. This study demonstrated that extreme shifts in soil moisture had dramatic impacts on the composition, activity, and potential functions of both DNA and RNA soil viruses.

Must be thirsty work.​