In a pioneering effort to combat climate change, scientists at The Ohio State University are exploring the potential of viruses to enhance carbon capture in the oceans and mitigate methane emissions from thawing Arctic soils. 

Utilizing a vast DNA and RNA virus species database, a team led by Matthew Sullivan, professor of microbiology, employs genomic sequencing and artificial intelligence to identify viruses that can influence the carbon cycle. The research has revealed that certain viruses can incorporate or "steal" genes from other organisms, playing a crucial role in the ocean's carbon metabolism.

This investigation into microbial metabolism genes has uncovered 340 known metabolic pathways across the world's oceans, with 128 of these pathways also present in the genomes of oceanic viruses. The researchers have unveiled the specific viruses that play a part in carbon metabolism and have developed community metabolic models to help predict which of these viruses target the most critical metabolic pathways and what engineering the ocean microbiome for improved carbon capture could look like.

 Sullivan presented this research at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Denver last week.

Sullivan's work is part of the Tara Oceans Consortium's global initiative, which has collected 35,000 water samples to study the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems. The consortium's findings suggest that viruses can facilitate the conversion of carbon into denser forms that sink to the ocean floor, thereby enhancing the ocean's role as a carbon sink. This approach offers a novel strategy for leveraging marine microbiomes to buffer against climate change.

Virginia Rich, associate professor of microbiology, applies similar principles to tackle methane emissions in northern Sweden's permafrost regions. Through the EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Rich explores how microbial communities in thawing permafrost soils contribute to and are affected by climate change. Her research focuses on identifying and utilizing viruses that can influence microbial processes responsible for methane production, a potent greenhouse gas.

The scientists' research projects exemplify the innovative application of viral engineering in environmental science. Their efforts highlight the potential of viruses to serve as tools in geoengineering, aiming to enhance carbon sequestration in oceans and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from permafrost soils, thereby offering new pathways to address the challenges of climate change.

Sullivan and Rich are principal investigators at the Byrd Center. Sullivan is also the director of the Center of Microbiome Science, while Rich is the EMERGE Biology Integration Institute co-director.

The National Science Foundation (NSF), the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and Tara Oceans support Sullivan's work. In addition to the NSF, Rich's work has been funded by the Department of Energy and the Grantham Foundation.

Read more by visiting Ohio State News.

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