title: Characterisation of three novel giant viruses reveals huge diversity among viruses infecting Prymnesiales (Haptophyta).
abstract: We have isolated three novel lytic dsDNA-viruses from Raunefjorden (Norway) that are putative members of the Mimiviridae family, namely Haptolina ericina virus RF02 (HeV RF02), Prymnesium kappa virus RF01 (PkV RF01), and Prymnesium kappa virus RF02 (PkV RF02). Each of the novel haptophyte viruses challenges the common conceptions of algal viruses with respect to host range, phylogenetic affiliation and size. PkV RF01 has a capsid of ~310 nm and is the largest algal virus particle ever reported while PkV RF01 and HeV RF02 were able to infect different species, even belonging to different genera. Moreover, PkV RF01 and HeV RF02 infected the same hosts, but phylogenetic analysis placed them in different groups. Our results reveal large variation among viruses infecting closely related microalgae, and challenge the common conception that algal viruses have narrow host range, and phylogeny reflecting their host affiliation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Postbox 7803, N-5020 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Torill Vik
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Johannessen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Postbox 7803, N-5020 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bratbak
authors.affiliation: Uni Research Environment Thormøhlensgt. 49 B, N-5006 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Aud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, University of Oslo, Post box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Elianne S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Egge
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, University of Oslo, Post box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Bente
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Edvardsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, University of Oslo, Post box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Wenche
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eikrem
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Postbox 7803, N-5020 Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: ruth.sandaa@bio.uib.no.
authors.forename: Ruth-Anne
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sandaa
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D058087:Haptophyta / Q000821:virology*; D058507:Host Specificity; D056686:Mimiviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017862:Phycodnaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny
keywords: Algae; Diversity; Haptophyta; Marine; Mimiviridae; NCLDV; Phycodnaviridae; Prymnesiophyte; Virus