Temperature induction of viruses in symbiotic dinoflagellates

AME Aquatic Microbial Ecology Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials AME 25:99-102 (2001) - doi:10.3354/ame025099 Temperature induction of viruses in symbiotic dinoflagellates William H. Wilson1,*, Isobel Francis2, Keith Ryan1, Simon K. Davy2 1Marine Biological Association, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, United Kingdom 2Institute of Marine Studies, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom *E-mail: whw@mba.ac.uk ABSTRACT: Bleaching manifests itself as a loss of symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) and/or chlorophyll from a variety of symbiotic hosts, including corals and sea anemones. Bleaching is known to result from a range of environmental stresses, the most significant of which is elevated temperature; how these stresses elicit a bleaching response is currently the focus of intense research. One consequence of environmental stress that has yet to be considered is viral attack. Here, we have isolated a transferable infectious agent believed to be a virus, from zooxanthellae of the temperate sea anemone Anemonia viridis. The infectious agent is induced by elevated temperature. Once induced, the filterable agent can be further propagated without heat induction, thus fulfilling Koch¹s postulates. We propose that zooxanthellae harbor a latent viral infection that is induced by exposure to elevated temperatures. If such a mechanism also operates in the zooxanthellae harbored by reef corals, and these viruses kill the symbionts, then this could contribute to temperature-induced bleaching. KEY WORDS: Viruses · Anemones · Coral bleaching · Zooxanthellae · Latent infection Full text in pdf format PreviousExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AME Vol. 25, No. 1. Online publication date: August 10, 2001 Print ISSN: 0948-3055; Online ISSN: 1616-1564 Copyright © 2001 Inter-Research.