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Chlorella viruses prevent multiple infections by depolarizing the host membrane
Timo Greiner1, Florian Frohns1, Ming Kang2
1Institute of Botany TU-Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
The Journal of General Virology
|April 24, 2009
Summary
Viruses infecting Chlorella algae typically only replicate one at a time, a phenomenon known as mutual exclusion. This study suggests virus-induced host membrane depolarization, mediated by K(+) channels, is responsible for this exclusion.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The unicellular green alga Chlorella NC64A is typically infected by only one of two co-inoculated viruses, exhibiting viral mutual exclusion.
- Virus-encoded potassium channels (Kcv) are known to induce host membrane depolarization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of virus-induced host membrane depolarization in the mutual exclusion of Chlorella viruses PBCV-1 and NY-2A.
- To determine if Kcv channels contribute to this exclusion phenomenon.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two distinct Chlorella viruses, PBCV-1 and NY-2A, distinguishable by real-time PCR.
- Assessed differential sensitivity to cesium (Cs+), a potassium channel blocker, on virus-induced membrane depolarization, Kcv channel activity, and plaque formation.
- Examined the effect of Cs+-mediated blockade of membrane depolarization on viral exclusion when viruses were added sequentially.
Main Results:
- PBCV-1 induced events were only slightly affected by Cs+, while NY-2A induced events were strongly inhibited.
- Sequential inoculation primarily resulted in the replication of the first virus added.
- When NY-2A-induced membrane depolarization was blocked by Cs+, PBCV-1 was no longer excluded.
Conclusions:
- Virus-induced host membrane depolarization, partly mediated by Kcv channels, plays a significant role in the mutual exclusion of Chlorella viruses.
- The ability of a virus to depolarize the host membrane is critical for its exclusion of other viruses.
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