Viral communities in a pH>10 serpentinite-like environment: insight into diversity and potential roles in modulating the microbiomes by bioactive vitamin B9 synthesis.

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the diversity, potential functionalities, and virus-microbe interactions in an artificially induced strongly alkaline environment. Functional validation of the detected viral folA genes encoding dihydrofolate reductase substantiated the synthesis of essential cofactors by viruses, which may be ubiquitous, considering the broad distribution of the viral genes associated with folate cycling.