Viral impact on elemental biogeochemical cycles (IMAGE)
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Viruses in different life cycles can promote elemental cycling (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) by viral lysing or auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) metabolisms. Viruses can increase microbial anabolism (e.g., microbial carbon-use efficiency), which further promotes the carbon encapsulating effect of the microbial carbon pump (MCP). Lysate dissolved organic matter (DOM) can be adsorbed and/or aggregated by minerals, thereby participating in all mineral carbon pumping (MinCP) processes involving carbon sequestration. Moreover, the coupled cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus can be strongly influenced by viruses. Figure credit: Di Tong and Jianming Xu.
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Figure credit: Di Tong and Jianming Xu.
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