Published this Thursday in the journal

Science

, a study reveals the discovery of 5,500 new virus species, mostly from unknown branches.

According to our colleagues from Slate, these research results are based in particular on the analysis of 35,000 water samples taken from the oceans around the world during the Tara Oceans expeditions.

Intended for scientific research and the defense of the environment, this French sailboat and its crew had the main objective of understanding the role of RNA viruses in marine ecosystems.

This major discovery has also forced them to create new levels of classification, the five current ranks no longer sufficient to catalog these newcomers.

#Communiqué 🗞️ |

From samples collected from oceans around the world during #TaraOceans ⛵️ expeditions, an international team has identified 5,500 new species of #RNA viruses.

🧬#CNRSocean 🌊



➡️ https://t.co/HEhkWSZBBQ pic.twitter.com/S0ciyMNBvQ

— CNRS 🌍 (@CNRS) April 8, 2022


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Better understand global warming

According to the researchers, nearly a billion RNA viruses are present in the oceans.

Considered essential, the latter regulate ecosystems, preventing, for example, a particular organism from dominating and infecting all the others.

These viruses may also play a role in carbon poisoning of the oceans, scientists say.

Research work could soon be carried out in this direction and, ultimately, guide researchers towards a better understanding of global warming and the issues surrounding it.

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