These viruses do not harm or even protect their hosts, and some are like virophages that infect and destroy other harmful viruses.
Initially, the researchers set out to study a new group of viruses found in the river’s water. Using modern technology and a high-performance “Leo” computer cluster at the University of Innsbruck, they found the DNA of the viruses.
Microbial DNA sequences were also read using the new Oxford Nanopore technology, which passes the DNA through tiny pores in a membrane. The huge data set examined by the researchers included only DNA sequences, but the virus sequences, which were very small in comparison, were found thanks to advanced technology.
Source: Ferra
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