Viral ecology of organic and inorganic particles in aquatic systems: avenues for further research.

ABSTRACT: Viral abundance and processes in the water column and sediments are well studied for some systems; however, we know relatively little about virus-host interactions on particles and how particles influence these interactions. Here we review virus-prokaryote interactions on inorganic and organic particles in the water column. Profiting from recent methodological progress, we show that confocal laser scanning microscopy in combination with lectin and nucleic acid staining is one of the most powerful methods to visualize the distribution of viruses and their hosts on particles such as organic aggregates. Viral abundance on suspended matter ranges from 10⁵ to 10¹¹ ml^-1. The main factors controlling viral abundance are the quality, size and age of aggregates and

SUBMITTER: Weinbauer MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4962909 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature