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Updated: May 12, 2026

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'

Published on: May 26, 2013

Genomic island variability facilitates Prochlorococcus-virus coexistence.

Sarit Avrani¹, Omri Wurtzel, Itai Sharon

¹Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.

|July 2, 2011

Summary

Marine cyanobacteria (Prochlorococcus) and their viruses coexist through host resistance. Mutations in viral attachment genes on genomic islands create diversity, reducing infection rates and enabling long-term survival.

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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

Area of Science:

Marine microbiology
Virology
Genomics

Background:

Prochlorococcus cyanobacteria and their viruses are abundant in oceans.
The mechanisms of host-virus coexistence are not fully understood.
Host resistance is a potential factor in this coexistence.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate the genomic basis of Prochlorococcus resistance to viral infection.
Understand how viral resistance affects host genome evolution.
Elucidate genomic mechanisms promoting long-term host-virus coexistence.

Main Methods:

Genome analysis of 77 Prochlorococcus substrains selected for viral resistance.
Whole-genome sequencing and PCR screening.
Analysis of mutations in viral attachment genes.

Main Results:

Mutations conferring resistance were found in non-conserved, horizontally transferred genes on a hypervariable genomic island.
These mutations impacted viral attachment and imposed a fitness cost on the host.
Viral pressure was shown to enhance the diversity of genes within genomic islands.

Conclusions:

Viral attachment genes are preferentially located in genomic islands.
Viruses act as a selective pressure, driving genomic diversity.
This diversity facilitates the long-term coexistence of Prochlorococcus and their viruses by reducing effective host population size for specific viruses.