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Gene expression of Microcystis aeruginosa during infection of cyanomyovirus Ma-LMM01

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Abstract

Ma-LMM01 is a lytic phage infecting the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. We have investigated the transcription dynamics of host genes during phage infection using quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. No significant shutdown of host transcription occurred. There was no change in the transcript levels of the psbA genes [photosystem II D1 (PSII D1)], but the transcript levels of the stress response genes and the alternative σ factor gene sigB were upregulated. The transcript levels of the Calvin cycle genes and pentose phosphate pathway genes did not change or only slightly decreased, suggesting that sufficient amounts of NADPH and nucleic acid were available without redirection of the carbon flux. These results suggest that Ma-LMM01 infection induces protection of the host’s photosynthetic apparatus, conserves the host’s PSII through phycobilisome degradation using its own NblA and provides protection to the photosystem using host stress response genes. This protection of the host’s photosystem without extensive genetic manipulation may have some benefits for viruses infecting cyanobacteria that inhabit surface waters and may also be advantageous for Ma-LMM01 to avoid the host defense systems.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (no. 20310045).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Marine Microbiology, Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Takashi Honda, Haruna Takahashi, Yoshihiko Sako & Takashi Yoshida

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  1. Takashi Honda
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  2. Haruna Takahashi
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  3. Yoshihiko Sako
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  4. Takashi Yoshida
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Correspondence to Takashi Yoshida.

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Honda, T., Takahashi, H., Sako, Y. et al. Gene expression of Microcystis aeruginosa during infection of cyanomyovirus Ma-LMM01. Fish Sci 80, 83–91 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-013-0685-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-013-0685-7

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