Global jumbo phage database (GJPD)

Jumbo phages (genome length > 200 kbp) have been found in diverse habitats worldwide, infecting a variety of prokaryotes. Yet, our understanding of their evolution and adaptation strategy in soil is limited due to the scarcity of soil-derived genomes. Here we carried out a size-fractioned (< 0.22μm) metagenomic survey across a 130-year chronosequence of a glacier foreland in the Tibetan plateau and discovered 1,352 novel jumbo vOTUs (virus operational taxonomic units) (genome ≥ 200kb). Their communities in glacier foreland revealed a distinct pattern between the early (≤40 years) and late stages (> 40 years) based on the macrodiveristy analysis. A significant increase in the diversity of jumbo phages communities following glacier retreat were illuminated, which coincided with soil development and vegetation formation. The phages distributed across sites within late-stage demonstrated a remarkable higher microdiversity and lower pNpS value compared to other geographic range, suggesting that glacial retreat are key drivers of the jumbo phage speciation. Alongside the shift in jumbo phage communities, we also noted an evolutionary and functional transition between the early and late stages. Overall, this study unravels the hidden diversity of jumbo phages in glacial foreland and highlights the importance of glacial retreat in shaping the composition, evolution and function of jumbo phage communities.