Molekuare Mechanismen der Virus Resistenz und Anfälligkeit bei Ostreococcus tauri

• Antragstellerin: Dr. Jessica Kegel
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Organismische Interaktionen, chemische Ökologie und Mikrobiome pflanzlicher Systeme
• Förderung: Förderung von 2012 bis 2014
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 220278428

Marine viruses are an active and important component of the microbial loop because they regulate microbial mortality, production, community structure, and biogeochemical cycling. Furthermore, they mediate genetic exchange between microbes through gene transduction, thereby affecting the genetic diversity of microbial communities. Although marine viruses control blooms and shape the evolution of biodiversity in phytoplankton, little is known about the factors governing resistance and susceptibility of their hosts.The objective of this project is to identify and demonstrate experimentally the role of host genes in susceptibility and resistance to viral attack in Ostreococcus tauri. Ostreococcus tauri and its viruses provide a model system for many marine host-virus interactions that are still less amenable to analysis. Both host and viral genomes are completely characterized and a genetic system for the host has been established. Combining genomics with expression data and flow cytometry is a novel approach to studying host-virus interactions in marine protists. Genes of interest have already been identified and genetic transformation will be used to increase or decrease their expression. The resulting resistant or susceptible phenotypes will then be studied using microbiology and molecular biology techniques, and flow cytometry. Gene expression, latent period, burst size and host specificities will be assessed. Determining the genes involved in viral resistance and susceptibility of the green alga O. tauri will help to understand basic viral resistance in phytoplankton.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsstipendien
• Internationaler Bezug: Frankreich
• Gastgeber: Nigel Grimsley, Ph.D.