Ecology, Diversity and Comparative Genomics of Oceanic Cyanobacterial Viruses
Abstract
The marine cyanobacteria Prochiorococcus and Synechococcus are numerically dominant primary producers in the oceans. Each genera consists of multiple physiologically and genetically distinct groups (termed "ecotypes" in Prochiorococcus). Cyanobacterial viruses (cyanophages) that infect Synechococcus are abundant (to 104.106 phage ml.I) in the oceans and calculations suggest that they play a small but significant role in host mortality. Cyanophages are also thought to shape their host populations through regulation of sub-populations and through transfer of genes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA431667
Entities
People
- Matthew B. Sullivan
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology