by Matteo Cavallito<\/p>\n
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Viruses in the soil may be less destructive to bacteria than previously thought. This is highlighted by research from the University of California Davis<\/strong> and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The study, published in recent weeks in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, offers a new contribution to the still limited knowledge about the impact of these microorganisms.<\/p>\n “Viruses<\/strong> have the potential to drive substantial microbial mortality and nutrient turnover,” the study<\/a> states. However, “Pinpointing viral contributions to terrestrial ecosystem processes remains a challenge, as temporal dynamics are difficult to unravel in the spatially and physicochemically heterogeneous soil<\/strong> environment.”<\/p>\n