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Context: Discovery of vB_HmeY_H4907, a virus found in the Pacific Ocean's deep trenches between Indonesia and Japan.

Key Highlights

• vB_HmeY_H4907 is a newly discovered virus found at an extreme depth of nearly 11,000 meters below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, specifically in the deep trench between Indonesia and Japan.
• vB_HmeY_H4907 is classified as a Bacteriophage, which is a type of virus that infects and replicates inside bacteria. It is often referred to as a "bacteria eater."
• This virus infects halophilic bacteria, which are bacteria that inhabit environments with high salt concentrations. These bacteria belong to the genus Halomonas and are commonly found in deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
• vB_HmeY_H4907 is a lysogenic phage, meaning that it inserts its genetic material into the bacteria but typically does not kill it. Instead, both the virus and the bacteria replicate simultaneously.
• Bacteriophages, including vB_HmeY_H4907, are considered some of the most abundant lifeforms on Earth. However, whether they are considered "alive" or not is a subject of debate in the field of virology.
• vB_HmeY_H4907 is not considered a threat to humans because it specifically infects bacteria and does not attack human cells.
• The research team speculates that environmental factors, such as climate change and rising ocean temperatures, could affect the survival of viruses like vB_HmeY_H4907. Changes in ocean conditions may impact the metabolism of the host bacteria, which, in turn, could influence the viruses that infect them.

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BACTERIOPHAGE: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/bacteriophage

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