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Deep sea viruses are an unexpected ringer

Virus DNA may help bacteria survive at hydrothermal vents.

By Ashley Yeager

- More than 2 years ago

Not all viral infections are nasty. Marine bacteria thriving in extreme heat and harsh chemicals spewing from deep-sea hydrothermal vents may get significant help from viruses, researchers report online in the Aug. 21 ISME Journal.

JUST EXPLORING An octopus attached itself to the side of a tank researchers used to sample ocean water from the surface to as deep as 2,500 meters and around hydrothermal vents.