Molecular Ecology of microalgal viruses

  • NAGASAKI Keizo
    National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research Agency
  • TAKAO Yoshitake
    Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University
  • SHIRAI Yoko
    National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research Agency
  • MIZUMOTO Hiroyuki
    National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research Agency
  • TOMARU Yuji
    National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research Agency

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • プランクトンに感染するウイルスに関する分子生態
  • プランクトン ニ カンセン スル ウイルス ニ カンスル ブンシ セイタイ

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Abstract

A great amount of virus particles exist in natural waters. Each virion is considered to have its own ecological role, affecting the maintenance and fluctuation of aquatic ecosystems. We have been studying viruses infectious to micro-plankton, especially those infecting phytoplankton. Red tides are caused by drastic increase in abundance of plankton. We succeeded in elucidating that viral infection is one of the most important factors determining the dynamics and termination of algal blooms by means of field survey and molecular experiments. In addition, we demonstrated that the interrelationship between viruses and their hosts are highly complicated, and might be determined by the molecular-structural difference of viral capsids among distinct virus ecotypes. Furthermore, in the process of our investigation on various aquatic algal viruses, their importance as genetic sources has also been suggested. In order to deeply understand the mechanism of aquatic ecosystem, more intensive studies as for aquatic viruses are urgently required.

Journal

  • Uirusu

    Uirusu 55 (1), 127-132, 2005

    The Japanese Society for Virology

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