Viruses influence microbial community structure and biogeochemical cycles in marine environments. Viral attachment to nonhost surfaces could influence host viral infection rates; however, the prevalence of such viral attachment is not investigated quantitatively. We used coastal seawater viral assemblages and, as models, marine vibriophage (SIO-2) and enterobacteriophages (T2 and T4) to investigate their attachment to probable nonhost marine bacteria. We also studied viral attachment to colloids and other abiotic surfaces in seawater. Centrifugation experiments with bacterium-virus mixtures showed substantial viral loss in the supernatant presumably due to the viral attachment to bacteria. This attachment (0.04 to 24 viruses μm^–2 [bacterial surface area]) varied with bacterium-virus combinations. Surprisingly, filtering seawater on 0.2-μm Anodisc or polycarbonate filters retained ~12 to 84% of viruses presumably attached to ≥0.2-μm-sized particles and/or the filter surface. Enzymatic digestion followed by epifluorescence and atomic force microscopy suggested that 7 to 25% of the total viruses were attached via β-glycosidic linkages. Furthermore, a substantial proportion (7 to 48%) of viruses became attached to model abiotic surfaces (polycarbonate, polypropylene, and glass), and this has significance for laboratory protocols as well as studies of virus ecology in particle-rich marine environments. Substantial attachment of viruses to nonhost surfaces could influence virus-driven biogeochemical cycles and microbial community structure.

IMPORTANCE Viruses play important roles in altering microbial community structure and biogeochemical cycles in marine environments. Viral attachment to nonhost surfaces can influence host viral infection rates; however, the prevalence of viral attachment to nonhost surfaces and the ratio of attached viruses to total viruses are little known. We used coastal seawater viral assemblages and used marine vibriophage (SIO-2) and enterobacteriophages (T2 and T4) as models to investigate their attachment to abiotic and biotic surfaces in seawater. Viral attachment was observed on several surfaces, such as nonhost bacteria, polymers, filters, cover glasses, and tube surfaces. This study cautions against commonly used protocols that require viral incubation and seawater fractionation. More importantly, these results could influence virus-driven biogeochemical cycles and microbial community structure in the ocean.

病毒会影响海洋环境中的微生物群落结构和生物地球化学循环。病毒附着在非宿主表面可能会影响宿主病毒感染率；但是，这种病毒附着的患病率尚未得到定量研究。我们使用沿海海水病毒组合，以及作为模型的海洋噬菌体（SIO-2）和肠噬菌体（T2和T4）来研究它们与可能的非宿主海洋细菌的附着。我们还研究了病毒对海水中胶体和其他非生物表面的附着。用细菌-病毒混合物进行的离心实验表明，上清液中病毒大量损失，大概是由于病毒附着在细菌上造成的。此附件（0.04至24个病毒，μm ^–2[细菌表面积]）随细菌-病毒组合而变化。出乎意料的是，在0.2-μm的Anodisc或聚碳酸酯过滤器上过滤海水时，大约12％至84％的病毒可能附着在≥0.2-μm大小的颗粒和/或过滤器表面。酶消化，然后进行落射荧光和原子力显微镜检查表明，总病毒的7％至25％通过β-糖苷键连接。此外，很大一部分病毒（7％至48％）附着在模型非生物表面（聚碳酸酯，聚丙烯和玻璃）上，这对于实验室操作规程以及在富含颗粒的海洋环境中研究病毒生态学具有重要意义。病毒大量附着于非宿主表面可能会影响病毒驱动的生物地球化学循环和微生物群落结构。

重要性病毒在改变海洋环境中的微生物群落结构和生物地球化学循环中起着重要作用。病毒附着在非宿主表面会影响宿主病毒感染率；然而，病毒附着于非宿主表面的流行率以及附着病毒与总病毒的比率尚不清楚。我们使用沿海海水病毒组合，并使用海洋噬菌体（SIO-2）和肠细菌噬菌体（T2和T4）作为模型来研究它们对海水中非生物和生物表面的附着。在几个表面上观察到病毒附着，例如非宿主细菌，聚合物，过滤器，盖玻片和试管表面。这项研究告诫不要使用需要病毒孵育和海水分馏的常用方案。更重要的是，