News Microbes

Scientists have found the first known microbes that can eat only viruses

Algae-infecting viruses provide enough nutrients for Halteria ciliates to reproduce

Three Halteria ciliates shown on a blue background

Halteria ciliates (three shown) each ate around 10,000 to 1 million viruses daily in laboratory experiments. In the wild, that number could skyrocket to up to around 1 quadrillion, scientists estimate.

Scenics & Science/Alamy Stock Photo

By Erin Garcia de Jesús

New Year, new viral diet — literally.

Tiny, pond-dwelling Halteria ciliates are virovores, able to survive on a virus-only diet, researchers report December 27 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.