Viral infection of the marine alga Emiliania huxleyi
 triggers lipidome remodeling and induces the production of highly saturated triacylglycerol

AbstractEmiliania huxleyi is a cosmopolitan coccolithophore widespread in temperate oceans. This unicellular photoautotroph forms massive recurring blooms that play an important role in large biogeochemical cycles of carbon and sulfur, which play a role in climate change. The mechanism of bloom formation and demise, controlled by giant viruses that routinely infect these blooms, is poorly understood. We generated a pan-transcriptome of E. huxleyi, derived from three strains with different susceptibility to viral infection. Expression profiling of E. huxleyi sensitive and resistant strains showed major basal differences, including many genes that are induced upon viral infection. This suggests that basal gene expression can affect the host metabolic state and the susceptibility of E. huxleyi to viruses. Due to its ecological importance, the pan-transcriptome and its protein translation, applicable to many E. huxleyi strains, is a powerful resource for investigation of eukaryotic microbial communities.

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Schrödinger’s Cheshire Cat: Are Haploid Emiliania huxleyi Cells Resistant to Viral Infection or Not?

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v9030051 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 51 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Gideon Mordecai ◽

Frederic Verret ◽

Andrea Highfield ◽

Declan Schroeder

Keyword(s):

Viral Infection ◽

Emiliania Huxleyi

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Induction of Phase Variation Events in the Life Cycle of the Marine Coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.67.9.3824-3831.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 67 (9) ◽

pp. 3824-3831 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Richard Laguna ◽

Jesus Romo ◽

Betsy A. Read ◽

Thomas M. Wahlund

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Marine Alga ◽

Phase Variation ◽

Emiliania Huxleyi ◽

C Cells ◽

Phase Switching ◽

C Cell ◽

Life Cycle Stages ◽

Cell Life ◽

Pure Cultures

ABSTRACT Emiliania huxleyi is a unicellular marine alga that is considered to be the world's major producer of calcite. The life cycle of this alga is complex and is distinguished by its ability to synthesize exquisitely sculptured calcium carbonate cell coverings known as coccoliths. These structures have been targeted by materials scientists for applications relating to the chemistry of biomedical materials, robust membranes for high-temperature separation technology, lightweight ceramics, and semiconductor design. To date, however, the molecular and biochemical events controlling coccolith production have not been determined. In addition, little is known about the life cycle of E. huxleyi and the environmental and physiological signals triggering phase switching between the diploid and haploid life cycle stages. We have developed laboratory methods for inducing phase variation between the haploid (S-cell) and diploid (C-cell) life cycle stages of E. huxleyi. PlatingE. huxleyi C cells on solid media was shown to induce phase switching from the C-cell to the S-cell life cycle stage, the latter of which has been maintained for over 2 years under these conditions. Pure cultures of S cells were obtained for the first time. Laboratory conditions for inducing phase switching from the haploid stage to the diploid stage were also established. Regeneration of the C-cell stage from pure cultures of S cells followed a predictable pattern involving formation of large aggregations of S cells and the subsequent production of cultures consisting predominantly of diploid C cells. These results demonstrate the ability to manipulate the life cycle of E. huxleyi under controlled laboratory conditions, providing us with powerful tools for the development of genetic techniques for analysis of coccolithogenesis and for investigating the complex life cycle of this important marine alga.

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