Marine Virus-Mediated Processes Impact Carbon Cycling and Recycling: New Findings from the Diatom Laboratory at Bar-Ilan University
A groundbreaking study from Bar-Ilan University, led by Dr. CHana Kranzler of the Faculty of Life Sciences in collaboration with Rutgers University, was recently published in the prestigious journal Science Advances. This research reveals how marine viruses—especially RNA viruses—play a crucial role in carbon cycling and recycling in the oceans, processes that are vital to marine ecosystem health and have far-reaching effects on the global carbon balance and climate regulation.
The study compared the effects of RNA and DNA viruses on unique microalgae from the diatom family. It revealed that the type of virus influences the composition of organic matter released after infection, which in turn alters how marine bacteria respond and affects the efficiency of carbon recycling in the ocean.
Dr. Chana Kranzler notes that the findings highlight the complex interactions between phytoplankton, pointing to their crucial role in shaping fundamental ocean cycles. She stresses that a deeper understanding of these processes is essential to uncovering the fate of carbon in marine ecosystems.
The research sheds light on the significant diversity among viruses, even when infecting the same host. According to Kranzler, this variability underscores the importance of distinguishing between virus types to fully grasp how biological recycling works.
Over the past three years, the Bar-Ilan laboratory has explored the dynamics between diatoms and viruses through both controlled experiments and field sampling across varied geographic regions, including the Red Sea, Mediterranean, and Pacific Ocean.
Last Updated Date : 24/07/2025
