Linhua Zhang

Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 6   doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0042
Received: 25 Oct., 2024    Accepted: 12 Dec., 2024    Published: 26 Dec., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Zhang L.H., 2024, Advancements in metagenomic and metatranscriptomic techniques for studying marine viruses, International Journal of Marine Science, 14(6): 377-384 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0042)

Marine viruses play a critical role in shaping marine ecosystems, influencing microbial diversity, biogeochemical cycles, and global climate. However, their immense diversity and complex interactions with hosts pose significant challenges to traditional research methods. This study focuses on recent advancements in metagenomic and metatranscriptomic techniques, highlighting their principles and workflows, as well as their applications in identifying novel viral species, active viral populations, and host-virus interactions. Through case studies, the practical applications of these techniques are demonstrated. The study underscores the importance of metagenomic and metatranscriptomic technologies in advancing marine virology research and envisions future directions for exploring marine viral ecosystems. It provides a scientific basis for developing strategies to address climate change and protect marine ecosystems.

Marine viruses; Metagenomics; Metatranscriptomics; Host-virus interactions; Ecological roles