biostudies-literatureTrainic MDe Botton Center for Marine ScienceMinerva Foundation327-335https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6137326biostudies-literatureUnknown6Sea spray aerosols (SSA), have a profound effect on the climate; however, the contribution of oceanic microbial activity to SSA is not fully established. We assessed aerosolization of the calcite units (coccoliths) that compose the exoskeleton of the cosmopolitan bloom-forming coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi. Airborne coccolith emission occurs in steady-state conditions and increases by an order of magnitude during E. huxleyi infection by E. huxleyi virus (EhV). Airborne to seawater coccolith ratio is 1:10⁸, providing estimation of airborne concentrations from seawater concentrations. The coccoliths' unique aerodynamic structure yields a characteristic settling velocity of ∼0.01 cm s^-1, ∼25 times slower than average sea salt particles, resulting in coccolith fractiiScienceInfection Dynamics of a Bloom-Forming Alga and Its Virus Determine Airborne Coccolith Emission from Seawater.PMC6137326712287Rudich YKoren ISharoni SSegev LTrainic MFrada MVardi AfalseInfection Dynamics of a Bloom-Forming Alga and Its Virus Determine Airborne Coccolith Emission from Seawater.Sea spray aerosols (SSA), have a profound effect on the climate; however, the contribution of oceanic microbial activity to SSA is not fully established. We assessed aerosolization of the calcite units (coccoliths) that compose the exoskeleton of the cosmopolitan bloom-forming coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi. Airborne coccolith emission occurs in steady-state conditions and increases by an order of magnitude during E. huxleyi infection by E. huxleyi virus (EhV). Airborne to seawater coccolith ratio is 1:10⁸, providing estimation of airborne concentrations from seawater concentrations. The coccoliths' unique aerodynamic structure yields a characteristic settling velocity of ∼0.01 cm s^-1, ∼25 times slower than average sea salt particles, resulting in coccolith fracti2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Aug2025-04-04T23:36:32.171Z2019-03-26T23:56:39ZS-EPMC61373263024062310.1016/j.isci.2018.07.017