Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026

Extraction of Diatom DNA from Water Samples and Tissues
Published on: November 10, 2023
First evidence for the existence of pennate diatom viruses
Yuji Tomaru1, Kensuke Toyoda, Kei Kimura
1National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research Agency, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, Japan. tomaruy@affrc.go.jp
Abstract:
Diatoms are considered the most successful and widespread group of photosynthetic eukaryotes. Their contribution to primary production is remarkably significant to the earth's ecosystems. Diatoms are composed of two orders: Centrales and Pennales. Thus far, viruses infecting centric diatom species have been isolated and characterized; however, viruses infecting pennates have not been reported. Here, we describe the first isolations and preliminary characterizations of two distinct pennate diatom viruses, AglaRNAV (31 nm in diameter, accumulates in the host cytoplasm) and TnitDNAV (35 nm in diameter, accumulates in the host nuclei) infecting Asterionellopsis glacialis and Thalassionema nitzschioides, respectively. Their genomes contain a single-stranded RNA of approximately 9.5 kb, and a closed, circular single-stranded DNA of approximately 5.5 kb harboring a partially double-stranded region, respectively. Further analysis of these viruses may elucidate many aspects of diatom host-virus relationships.
More Related Videos
09:27A Rapid Strategy for the Isolation of New Faustoviruses from Environmental Samples Using Vermamoeba vermiformis
Published on: June 4, 2016
09:50Single Cell Micro-aspiration as an Alternative Strategy to Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting for Giant Virus Mixture Separation
Published on: October 27, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Viruses of Archaea
Retroviruses
Diversity of Protists II
Diversity of Protists I
Human Virome
Diversity of Protists III