Effects of viruses on nutrient turnover and growth efficiency of noninfected marine bacterioplankton

The production of organic C, P and N compounds by viral lysis stimulates the growth of noninfected bacteria in marine environments suggesting that viral activity recycles nutrients in the microbial food web. The growth efficiency of noninfected bacteria decreases in the presence of viruses. The extracellular breakdown of polymeric organic nitrogen and phosphorous in cell lysates probably causes an increase in energy consumption and a decrease in growth ability. The addition of viruses to cultures with low P enhances the uptake of organic C and alkaline phosphatase activity.