A collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and US researchers has unveiled the intricate world of viruses in freshwater lakes, a discovery poised to transform our approach to combating antibiotic-resistant infections and managing environmental health.
This international team’s pioneering work, recently published in the Nature Microbiology Journal, represents the longest DNA-based monitoring of a natural environment on Earth.
Led by Dr. Karthik Anantharaman, Visiting Professor at Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, IIT Madras, and an Associate Professor of Microbial and Viral Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, the research delves into the critical roles viruses play in ecosystems, moving beyond their often-negative perception.
One of the most exciting applications emerging from this research is ‘phage therapy,’ an approach that harnesses specific viruses called phages to target and eliminate disease-causing bacteria.
This strategy holds immense promise in the global fight against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, a growing menace in India and worldwide.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us just how important it is to track viruses,” stated Dr. Anantharaman.
“Understanding how viruses emerge, evolve, and interact with their environments is critical – not only for responding to pandemics but also for recognizing the vital roles they play in ecosystems. Yet, long-term studies of viral communities, particularly in natural environments, are rare.”
The international team, comprising scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Texas at Austin, employed Machine Learning-based tools to analyze 465 freshwater lake samples collected over more than 20 years from a single location in Madison, Wisconsin, US.
This unprecedented dataset provided a unique, extended timeline for observing how viruses evolve and respond to environmental changes.
Through metagenomics, a method involving the sequencing of all DNA from the lakes, the researchers made several significant discoveries:
- They successfully reconstructed an astounding 1.3 million virus genomes, making this the largest study of its kind.
- The study revealed that viruses follow predictable seasonal and yearly cycles, with many reappearing consistently.
- Intriguingly, viruses were found to “steal” genes from their hosts and repurpose them for their own benefit. The team identified 578 instances of viral genes aiding critical processes like photosynthesis and methane use.
- The research demonstrated that viruses evolve over time, with natural selection driving the dominance of certain genes.
- Environmental factors, including carbon and ammonium levels often linked to pollution, were shown to influence viral populations, similar to their impact on other organisms.
“This lack of data creates a significant knowledge gap, hindering our ability to predict how viruses influence both human health and environmental stability,” Dr. Anantharaman added.
“By investing in long-term viral monitoring, we can better prepare for future outbreaks and uncover the complex ways viruses contribute to the health of our planet.”
The implications of this research extend beyond medicine.
Studying viruses in freshwater systems could revolutionize water resource management, natural ecosystem preservation, and public health. The findings pave the way for innovative ecosystem management strategies, such as using viruses to restore balance in disrupted environments like polluted lakes.
