Curious Cases Going Viral
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Nov 7, 2025 
Jonathan Ball, a Professor of Molecular Virology, lays out the basics of viruses, tackling the age-old question of whether they are alive. Martha Clokie, a Professor of Microbiology, highlights therapeutic uses of bacteriophages in combating antibiotic resistance. Marylin Roosinck, Professor Emeritus, discusses beneficial plant viruses and their role in evolution. Together, they explore the surprising roles viruses play in ecosystems and human health, advocating for a shift in our perception of these often-misunderstood microbes.
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What Defines A Virus
- A virus is essentially genetic material in a protein shell that must enter a cell to replicate.
- Scientists debate whether viruses are alive because they cannot replicate or metabolize outside cells.
The Vastness Of The Virome
- Viruses are the most genetically diverse entities with millions of types across environments.
- A litre of seawater can contain about 10 billion viruses, often infecting non-human hosts.
Yellowstone Three‑Way Symbiosis
- In Yellowstone, hot-soil plants survive only when a virus infects a fungus that colonizes the plant.
- The three-way symbiosis (plant, fungus, virus) enables growth at temperatures above 50°C.