2017年32卷4期

How many different viruses are there on our planet? In the latest International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) report, the list of named viruses has grown to 4404 species. What about unknown viruses? A study on estimating unknown viral diversity in Pteropus giganteus suggests that at least 320,000 different viruses infect mammals (5513 species). Following this method, there could be 100 million viruses in 1.7 million known species of animals, plants, insects and algae. When considering about viruses of bacteria, archaea, and other single-celled organisms, and viruses in less-studied biosphere (e.g. the ocean system), the number could be 1031. Just as the exploration of the Universe, scientists have never stopped taking efforts to further discover the viral universe and make a better life. On this issue’s cover, 3D-printed herpesvirus, adenovirus, poliovirus, hepatis B virus, and Zika virus (from left to right) are artistically presented in the vast space near the Leo constellation. 3D-printed viruses are courtesy of Dr. Ding Gao from the Core Facility of Wuhan Institute of Virology.