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Contenuto archiviato il 2024-05-29

Marine cyanobacterial viruses: diversity and dynamics

Final Activity Report Summary - MARCYV (Marine cyanobacterial viruses: diversity and dynamics)

We have uncovered a vast diversity in the existing podovirus populations in the Red Sea using PCR and sequencing of 3 genes - the DNA polymerase gene, the major capsid protein gene and the photosynthesis gene psbA. These podoviruses can be divided into two major clusters with a number of other more minor groupings apparent.

We have for the first time quantified podoviruses and myoviruses infecting marine cyanobacteria. We found that samples from the Red Sea in winter and summer harbour different numbers of these two major virus families infecting marine cyanobacteria and that their relative abundance differs with the host used for enumeration.