Marine animals protect the Earth from millions of viruses

Shrimp, oysters, sponges and shellfish can effectively remove virus particles in the aquatic environment through a variety of methods.

Sponges help reduce the number of viruses under the sea.(Photo: CK-12).

Jennifer Welsh, a marine ecologist at the Royal Dutch Marine Research Institute, and her colleagues say some animals kill aquatic bacteria in an article published March 23 in the journal Nature. Previous studies have shown that the ocean is home to millions of different species of bacteria. A milliliter of seawater can contain 10 million viruses. In the new study, the Welsh team tested 10 different marine animals. They found shrimp, oysters, sponges and shellfish as the most effective species to help reduce the number of viruses in the water.

Through experiments, the team found that animals eliminate the virus by eating directly or indirectly creating a barrier between the virus and the potential host. According to Welsh, the marine animals in the study could wipe out almost an entire virus population in the sample within hours.

"In our experiment, sponges reduced the virus count by 94% in 3 hours. Another experiment showed that the virus removal process was very fast and efficient. Even when we added new viruses to the water." every 20 minutes, sponges remain effective virus removal , " Welsh said.

Welsh and colleagues said their findings could be used in aquaculture. Organisms like sponges can protect domestic animals from disease outbreaks, preventing viruses from invading marine wildlife.

1. The sponge has up to 70% of the human gene
2. The sponge "forest" at a depth of 2,000m on the American seabed