Publications by authors named "Mara Elena Heinrichs"
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect and replicate within bacterial hosts, playing a significant role in regulating microbial populations and ecosystem dynamics. However, phages from extreme environments such as polar regions remain relatively understudied due to challenges such as restricted ecosystem access and low biomass. Understanding the diversity, structure, and functions of polar phages is crucial for advancing our knowledge of the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of these environments.
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- Marine viruses prevalent in seawater have been less studied regarding their movement from ocean surfaces to the atmosphere.
- A study found that 6.2% of viruses could be found in both the air-sea interface and rainwater, indicating selective enrichment and transfer of viruses, particularly from the surface microlayer and sea foams to the atmosphere.
- The presence of specific CRISPR matches suggests frequent interactions between marine prokaryotes and foreign viruses, supporting the idea that viruses can spread through the natural water cycle.
Viruses are highly abundant, diverse, and active components of marine environments. Flow cytometry has helped to increase the understanding of their impact on shaping microbial communities and biogeochemical cycles in the pelagic zone. However, to date, flow cytometric quantification of sediment viruses is still hindered by interference from the sediment matrix.
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