an introduction to marine viruses
DESCRIPTION
An Introduction to Marine Viruses. What Is a Virus?. Virus Size & Structure. 1 Micron. Chlamydia. Pox virus. Herpes virus. Influenza Virus. Bacterium ( Staphyllococcus aureus ). Picornavirus (polio). Relative size of viruses and bacteria. Microbial Loop. CO2. DOC. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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An Introduction to Marine Viruses
What Is a Virus?
Virus Size & StructureRe
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1 Micron
Bacterium (Staphyllococcus aureus)
Chlamydia
Pox virus
Herpes virusInfluenza VirusPicornavirus (polio)
Microbial Loop
DOC Bacteria Higher Trophic Levels
Viruses
Lysis
Decay
CO2
Figure Adapted from Sawstrom, Viral Dynamics in the Microbial Loop
Viruses in the Marine EnvironmentThe estimated 1030 viruses in the ocean, if stretched end to end, would span farther than the nearest 60 galaxies.
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Characteristics of Aquatic Viruses
Most diverse and abundant component of the plankton community
Only a small portion of marine virus diversity has been isolated and described
Composition and structure are dependant on seasonality, the degree of stratification of the water column, and other factors related to geographic location.
Why Are They Important?
Marine Health – positive and negative influences
Global Carbon Cycle
Influence on Marine Health
Control of bacterial and algal populations Microbial Food Web & Nutrient cycling CO2 cycle Microbial Diversity
Role in Microbial Food Webs
Products of cell lysis: Macromolecules Cell organelles Virus particles
Influence on Structure and Diversity of Aquatic
Microbial Communities
Cell Predation Limiting Specific Bacteria and Phytoplankton Populations
Lateral and Horizontal Gene Transfer
An Important Role in the Deep-Sea biogeochemical
cycles
Viral production in deep-sea benthic ecosystems worldwide is extremely high
Viral infections are responsible for the abatement of 80% of prokaryotic heterotrophic production
Viruses on the Sea Floor
Photo from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)
Increasing Marine Stresses
Transfer of invasive, non-native, microbial constituents from one region to another
Pollution Outbreak of waterborne disease Loss of habitat Overharvesting
Implications for Future Research
The processes involved with with viruses and nutrient cycling need to be examined
The effects of global warming have placed special emphasis on understanding the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen
Determination of how the physiology and ecology of planktonic organisms affects global carbon and nitrogen cycling may improve our ability to predict and perhaps remediate the ecological impacts of human related carbon and nitrogen release
The Potential for New Discoveries
A marine virus has been found with a gigantic genome that contains compounds that might be used in anti-ageing and cancer-inhibiting therapies
This virus is known to infect a marine algae species that is important in taking billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and is thought to control climate through the production of a gas (dimethyl sulfide) that helps form clouds
Implications for Marine Management
Through cycles of infection, replication and host cell lysis, phages impact multiple pathways and processes involved in the population ecology and functioning of marine environments as a whole
Scientists need to better understand the function of marine viruses in order to model the future effects of climate change and other global changes as well as to find new discoveries in medicine and microbiolog