viral metagenome Genome sequencing

The distribution and diversity of RNA viruses in soil ecosystems is largely unknown, despite their significant impact on public health, ecosystem functions, and food security. The aim of this project was to apply viromics to the characterisation of soil RNA viral communities along an altitudinal productivity gradient of peat, managed grassland and coastal soils. Virus-like-particles were purified from five soil-types and total RNA converted to cDNA and sequenced on one lane of a HiSeq 4000. HMMs were used to identify RNA dependent RNA polymerase gene containing contigs within the co-assembled RNA virome and their spatial distribution, phylogenetic diversity and potential host ranges analysed. The project demonstrates the utility of terrestrial RNA viromics to characterise RNA viral communities in soil.