The newly discovered giant viruses fall into two main orders: Imitervirales and Algavirales, each employing distinct infection strategies and genetic functions.12 Imitervirales are the most genetically complex, possessing a more flexible "life strategy" that potentially allows them to infect a wider range of hosts.1 Both orders play significant roles in marine ecosystems, with Algavirales being the most abundant in oceans, followed by Imitervirales.3 The research team identified 569 new functional proteins across these orders, including nine involved in photosynthesis, suggesting these viruses don't just kill their hosts but actively manipulate their metabolism during infection.12 This manipulation extends to carbon processing and nutrient flow, indicating giant viruses indirectly shape marine food webs and biogeochemical cycles.2

Giant viruses employ sophisticated mechanisms to hijack photosynthesis in their marine hosts, particularly algae. Researchers have identified specific pathways through which these viruses divert energy during the photosynthetic process. One key mechanism involves the interception of electron flow, where viruses exploit a natural "leakiness" in the protein scaffold where initial photosynthetic reactions occur1. This hijacking pathway was discovered using ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, revealing that electrons can be "stolen" at surprisingly early stages of photosynthesis1. Additionally, viruses can manipulate quinones—ring-shaped molecules that naturally accept and give away electrons—to further redirect energy for their own purposes1.

The implications of this viral manipulation are significant for marine ecosystems. By redirecting photosynthetic energy, viruses can alter carbon processing and nutrient flows throughout the ocean2. Some viruses have even evolved to encode their own photosynthesis-related proteins, with researchers identifying nine such proteins across the newly discovered giant viruses2. This suggests these viruses don't simply kill their hosts but strategically modify their metabolic processes during infection, potentially influencing larger ecological patterns including harmful algal blooms that impact human health21.

BEREN (Bioinformatic tool for Eukaryotic virus Recovery from Environmental metageNomes) represents a significant breakthrough in giant virus detection technology. Developed by researchers at the University of Miami, this computational tool scans massive DNA libraries for giant virus signatures and reconstructs their genomes from complex environmental data.1 Running on the University's Pegasus supercomputer, BEREN successfully processed gigabase-sized libraries to extract complete viral genomes, addressing a critical gap in environmental virus detection methods.2

The tool's practical applications extend beyond basic research. BEREN offers scientists and public health officials a way to monitor marine environments for potential harmful algal blooms, which pose significant health hazards globally.1 By improving detection capabilities, researchers can now predict and potentially manage these ecological events.2 Available for public download, BEREN serves as a comprehensive pipeline for assessing both the diversity and functional potential of giant viruses (NCLDV) and Preplasmiviricota viruses in marine ecosystems.34