We commonly acknowledge that bacterial viruses (phages) shape the composition and
evolution of bacterial communities in nature and therefore have important roles in ecosystem …

Viruses of bacteria (bacteriophages or phage) have broad effects on bacterial ecology and
evolution in nature that mediate microbial interactions, shape bacterial diversity, and …

Since their discovery, bacteriophages have been traditionally regarded as the natural
enemies of bacteria. However, recent advances in molecular biology techniques, especially …

Studying the coevolutionary dynamics between bacteria and the bacteriophage viruses that
infect them is critical to understanding both microbial diversity and ecosystem functioning …

The persistent inertia in the ability to culture environmentally abundant microbes from
aquatic ecosystems represents an obstacle in disentangling the complex web of ecological …

Phages exert tremendous ecological and evolutionary forces directly on their bacterial hosts.
Phage induced cell lysis also indirectly contributes to organic and inorganic nutrient …

Phages are considered the most abundant and diverse biological entities on Earth and are
notable not only for their sheer abundance, but also for their influence on bacterial hosts. In …

Highlights•Phages are abundant within ecosystems, but their role is often understated.•
Ecological success models can help explain observed phage–bacteria …

Viruses numerically dominate our oceans; however, we have only just begun to document
the diversity, host range and infection dynamics of marine viruses, as well as the subsequent …

Phages are viruses that infect bacteria. They affect various microbe-mediated processes that
drive biogeochemical cycling on a global scale. Their influence depends on whether the …