What Did Viruses Ever Do For Us? The Evolution of “Good” Viruses

Viruses generally get a very bad press. Deservedly so. Viruses cause serious epidemics and pandemics in humans and threaten food security by causing crop and livestock diseases. However, of the more than 1030 virus particles that exist at any instant, few endanger us, plants, or animals. Most infect bacteria and archaea and without these viruses Earth’s biosphere would collapse. Viruses are the largest group of emerging plant pathogens. But paradoxically, many confer benefits on plants that…