What is the estimated number of bacteriophage species?
Best insight from top research papers
The estimated number of bacteriophage species on Earth is vast, with different studies providing varying estimates. One meta-analysis suggests there are approximately 4.80×10^31 phages, making them the most abundant and diverse entities on the planet . Another study mentions an estimate of about 10^32 bacteriophages, highlighting their commonality and diversity in the biosphere . Despite the abundance of bacteriophages, their official taxonomy remains challenging due to the lack of genetic and proteomic data, with a significant portion of phages remaining unclassified within the current taxonomy system . The diversity and prevalence of bacteriophages play crucial roles in shaping microbial communities, influencing the taxonomic and functional composition of various ecosystems .
Answers from top 4 papers
More filters
| Papers (4) | Insight |
|---|---|
125 Citations | Around 20 viral taxa, mostly at the genus level, were identified in human gut metagenomes, suggesting an estimated number of bacteriophage species in the study. |
196 Citations | The paper estimates there are 4.80×10^31 phages on Earth, with only 257,698 viral genotypes identified, indicating a scarcity of viral metagenomic data. |
69 Citations | The estimated number of bacteriophage species on earth is about 10^32, making them one of the most common and diverse entities in the biosphere. |
| The estimated number of bacteriophage species is not explicitly mentioned in the paper. |
Related Questions
How many lactobacillus phages are sequenced up to date?4 answersTo date, a total of 51 lactobacillus phages have been sequenced.
What is the estimated number of living species of fish?5 answersThe estimated number of living species of fish ranges from 15,000 to 17,000, with some estimates going up to 40,000 species. Freshwater fishes comprise almost 13,000 species, while the remaining 16,000 species live in saltwater. The order Characiformes alone has nearly 2,000 species. The number of teleosts, the most successful group of vertebrates, is estimated to be between 20,000 and 30,000 species. Overall, the number of living fish species is estimated to be at least 15,000, but it could be considerably higher.
Estimated number of covid-19?4 answersThe estimated number of COVID-19 infections is higher than the number of confirmed cases in multiple countries. The estimated number of infections varies across countries, with the number of infections being 3 times higher than confirmed cases in some countries. In the United States, it is estimated that there have been 52.9 million total infections, which is significantly higher than the reported cases. The estimates suggest that the total number of infected cases may be approximately 4 times higher than the confirmed cases on average. These estimates indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic is more widespread than what the confirmed cases suggest, and there may be a high number of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic cases.
What is the estimate for the total number of invertebrate species in the world?5 answersThe estimate for the total number of invertebrate species in the world is approximately 1.5 million.
What are current discoveries regarding bacteriophages?4 answersBacteriophages, or bacterial viruses, have been the subject of recent discoveries and research. Advances in phage genomics, microscopy, and the discovery of the CRISPR-Cas anti-phage defense system have sparked a renaissance in phage research. Metagenomic sequence analysis has become a primary source of virus discovery, leading to the identification of diverse bacteriophages related to crAssphage, the most abundant human-associated virus known. Phages have been found to communicate with each other and assemble specialized compartments within their host's cytoplasm. Phages also have the potential to be used as therapeutics, as demonstrated by successful phage-based treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections. The vast diversity of phages remains largely unexplored, with the current knowledge representing only a fraction of the total number of phage particles in the biosphere. These recent discoveries highlight the importance of bacteriophages in molecular biology, biotechnology, and biomedicine.
A database of bacteriophage genomes?4 answersA comprehensive database of bacteriophage genomes is available for researchers. The Actinobacteriophage Database (PhagesDB) collects and shares information related to the discovery, characterization, and genomics of viruses that infect Actinobacterial hosts. Another database, the Mycobacteriophage Genome Database (MGDB), is a repository of completely sequenced mycobacteriophages with annotated information. Additionally, the phiGENOME database provides a web-based genome browser for dynamic and interactive graphical representation of phage genomes. These databases offer researchers the ability to browse, query, and analyze phage genomes, as well as access information on gene parameters, functional annotation, and gene regulation in bacteriophages. They serve as valuable resources for comparative genomics, phylogenetic analysis, and the study of phage packaging strategies and physical ends of genomes.