Bacterial chemotaxis toward virus-infected cyanobacteria

Abstract

During the pre-lysis phases of phage infection, the cyanobacterium Synechococcus releases metabolites that attract heterotrophic bacteria — a process that is likely to influence carbon fate in the ocean.

Fig. 1 |. Impact of bacterial chemotaxis toward virus-infected cells on carbon and energy flow in marine ecosystems.

Virus-infected cells release chemoattractant metabolites, attracting bacteria that swim toward the infected cells via chemotaxis. As bacteria colonize the infected cells, they remineralize DOM released from the cells, contributing to nutrient cycling (viral shunt). This interaction potentially promotes the aggregation of cells and organic material into clumps that eventually form marine snow. Aggregates are either consumed by zooplankton, transferring carbon up the food web, or sink to the deep ocean, contributing to long-term carbon sequestration (viral shuttle), illustrating the influence of viral infections on carbon fate in marine ecosystems.