title: Virophages to viromes: a report from the frontier of viral oceanography.
abstract: The investigation of marine viruses has advanced our understanding of ecology, evolution, microbiology, oceanography and virology. Significant findings discussed in this review include the discovery of giant viruses that have genome sizes and metabolic capabilities that distort the line between virus and cell, viruses that participate in photosynthesis and apoptosis, the detection of communities of viruses of all genomic compositions and the preeminence of viruses in the evolution of marine microbes. Although we have made great progress, we have yet to synthesize the rich archive of viral genomic data with oceanographic processes. The development of cutting edge methods such as single virus genomics now provide a toolset to better integrate viruses into the ecology of the ocean.
authors.affiliation: Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii at Manoa, CMORE Hale, Honolulu, HI 96822, United States. aculley@hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Alexander I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Culley
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017753:Ecosystem; D016679:Genome, Viral; D009791:Oceanography; D012623:Seawater / Q000821:virology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*