Within the context of the MOVE program, SERC researchers are striving to understand the role of viruses in the ecology of eukaryotic microalgae in Chesapeake Bay. We have successfully isolated and cultivated a nuclear inclusion virus that infects Chaetoceros c.f. gracilis and have characterized its infection cycle and morphology within the host. We have also demonstrated seasonal and spatial patterns in the occurrence of viruses effective against C. gracilis in the Bay. Ongoing studies are considering molecular aspects of the virus (e.g., genome size, type of nucleic acid), morphology of the free virus, duration of the infection cycle, and burst size.
Phytoplankton
Team Members:
D. Wayne Coats, Senior Research Scientist
Yvan Bettarel, Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellow 2003-2004
Yoanna Eissler, Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellow 2004-present
Sean Cooney, Biological Technician 2002-2003
Suzanna Ribblett, Biological Technician 2003-2005
Matt Feinberg, Biological Technician 2006-present
JaeSeong Kim, Visiting Scientist 2005
Tamieka Armstrong, Intern 2002-2003
Chaquetta Felton, Intern 2002
Sarah Jardeleza, Intern 2002-2003
Latoya Jackson, Intern 2004
James Trice, Intern 2004
Lisa Albinsson, Intern 2005
JiYeon Jung, Intern 2005
Publications:
Bettarel, Y., Kan, J., Wang, K., Williamson, K. E., Cooney, S., Ribblett, S., Chen, F., Wommack, K. E. & Coats, D. W. 2005. Isolation and preliminary characterisation of a small nuclear inclusion virus infecting the diatom Chaetocerus cf. gracilis. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 40: 103-114.
Presentations:
Eissler, Y.,Wang, K., Chen, F., & Coats, D. W. 2006 Molecular characterization of Chaetoceros cf gracilis virus isolated from Chesapeake Bay, USA. 2006 Summer ASLO Meeting, 4-9 June, Victoria, British Columbia Canada.
Eissler, Y. & Coats D. W. 2006. Characterization of Chaetoceros cf gracilis virus isolated from Chesapeake Bay. International Council for Science, Scienific Committee on Oceanic Research, Virus Ecology in Marine Systems: A Workshop on Methods, June 1-3, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Bettarel, Y, Coats, D. W., Kan, J., Wang, K., Chen, F., Williamson, K. & Wommack, K. E. 2005. Isolation and characterization of a nuclear inclusion virus infecting the bloom forming diatom Chaetoceros c. f. gracilis. 2005 ASLO Summer Meeting. Santiago de Compostella, Spain.
Eissler, Y & Coats D. W. 2005. Characterization of phytoplankton-viral systems from Chesapeake Bay. 11th East Coast Conference on Protozoology. Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond Virginia.
Eissler, Y & Coats D. W. 2005. Characterization of phytoplankton-viral systems from Chesapeake Bay. 2005 ASLO Summer Meeting June 19-24. Santiago de Compostella, Spain.
