Figure 1.

Viral metagenomic workflow. A schematic representation of the steps and processes involved in the isolation, identification, and analysis of the virome. Following sample collection, the sample is purified through a series of steps involving ultracentrifugation and filtration to retain the virus-like particles (VLPs). This is followed by extraction steps to isolate the genomes of the VLPs which are then amplified by PCR, utilized for library preparation and sequenced using sequencing technologies such as Illumina, Pacbio, or Oxford nanopore technology. The sequencing generates reads—short, long, or ultra-long—which are quality controlled, annotated, and assembled using different databases and machine learning tools. Finally, the identified VLPs are then subjected to taxonomic and functional profiling to answer key biological questions.