Geothermal vents in the ocean are home to many species of extreme thermophiles and viruses. In fact, there is an ongoing war down there between thermophiles and viruses with each trying to genomically adapt and outwit the other. The BioF:GREAT group and the Laboratory of Michael Terns are learning about lectin binding proteins that are found in the S-layer of thermophiles they are working with. These lectin binding proteins could be used to recognize glycoproteins on the surface of geothermal viruses to combat their entry into their thermophile hosts.