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Tractable Mammalian Cell Infections with Protozoan-primed Bacteria
Published on: April 2, 2013
Characterization of a latent virus-like infection of symbiotic zooxanthellae
Jayme Lohr1, Colin B Munn, William H Wilson
1Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, UK.
Abstract:
A latent virus-like agent, which we designated zooxanthella filamentous virus 1 (ZFV1), was isolated from Symbiodinium sp. strain CCMP 2465 and characterized. Transmission electron microscopy and analytical flow cytometry revealed the presence of a new group of distinctive filamentous virus-like particles after exposure of the zooxanthellae to UV light. Examination of thin sections of the zooxanthellae revealed the formation and proliferation of filamentous virus-like particles in the UV-induced cells. Assessment of Symbiodinium sp. cultures was used here as a model to show the effects of UV irradiance and induction of potential latent viruses. The unique host-virus system described here provides insight into the role of latent infections in zooxanthellae through environmentally regulated viral induction mechanisms.
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