Invisible Actors in Groundwater
04.02.2026 13:49
Researchers from the Cluster of Excellence »Balance of the Microverse« discover previously unknown viruses and their central role in ecosystems.
Groundwater, the largest reservoir of liquid freshwater on Earth, harbors complex microbial communities crucial for essential biogeochemical cycles. A new study, published in Nature Communications, reveals the previously underestimated role of viruses within this hidden ecosystem. An international team led by Dr. Akbar Adjie Pratama and Prof. Dr. Kirsten Küsel (University of Jena, »Balance of the Microverse« Cluster of Excellence) and Prof. Dr. Matthew B. Sullivan (Ohio State University) has created a comprehensive picture of viral diversity and function in a groundwater system.
Key Findings:
- Vast Viral Diversity: Analysis of 1.24 terabases of environmental genomic data from seven groundwater wells at the Hainich Critical Zone Exploratory in Thuringia identified over 257,000 viral operational taxonomic units – 99% of which are previously unknown.
- Viral Metabolic Influence: Many detected viruses carry auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) that reprogram host metabolism, directly impacting carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling. This suggests viruses actively modulate microbial community dynamics and nutrient cycling.
- Complex Interactions: Viruses appear integrated into complex microbial networks, controlling both ultra-small organisms and their hosts – a phenomenon previously observed only in extreme environments. The study suggests multi-layered interactions, including “ménages à trois” involving three interacting entities.
- Active Players, Not Bystanders: Viruses are not passive elements but actively influence key functions of the groundwater microbiome.
Significance:
This research expands our understanding of groundwater microbiome complexity and highlights the interconnectedness of life within these systems. Understanding viral roles is essential for predicting how groundwater ecosystems will respond to environmental changes like climate change, falling water levels, and nutrient inputs. The findings provide a foundation for future targeted experiments and offer potential for biotechnological applications, as well as more precise models for global subsurface biogeochemical cycles.
Scientific Contacts:
- Prof. Dr. Kirsten Küsel
Institute for Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution at the University of Jena
Dornburger Straße 159, 07743 Jena, Germany
Phone: +49 3641 9-49461
Email: [email protected]
Original Publication:
Pratama, A.A., Pérez-Carrascal, O., Sullivan, M.B. et al. Diversity and ecological roles of hidden viral players in groundwater microbiomes. Nat Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-68914-2
