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Dynamics of transparent exopolymer particle production and aggregation during viral infection of the coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi
Author(s) -
Nissimov Jozef I.,
Vandzura Rebecca,
Johns Christopher T.,
Natale Frank,
Haramaty Liti,
Bidle Kay D.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.14261
Subject(s) - emiliania huxleyi , exopolymer , marine snow , coccolithophore , biology , particle (ecology) , biophysics , prochlorococcus , environmental chemistry , phytoplankton , ecology , chemistry , water column , nutrient , bacteria , cyanobacteria , genetics , synechococcus
Summary Emiliania huxleyi produces calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) coccoliths and transparent exopolymer particles (TEP), sticky, acidic carbohydrates that facilitate aggregation. E. huxleyi's extensive oceanic blooms are often terminated by coccolithoviruses (EhVs) with the transport of cellular debris and associated particulate organic carbon (POC) to depth being facilitated by TEP‐bound ‘marine snow’ aggregates. The dynamics of TEP production and particle aggregation in response to EhV infection are poorly understood. Using flow cytometry, spectrophotometry and FlowCam visualization of alcian blue (AB)‐stained aggregates, we assessed TEP production and the size spectrum of aggregates for E. huxleyi possessing different degrees of calcification and cellular CaCO 3 :POC mass ratios, when challenged with two EhVs (EhV207 and EhV99B1). FlowCam imaging also qualitatively assessed the relative amount of AB‐stainable TEP (i.e., blue:red ratio of each particle). We show significant increases in TEP during early phase EhV207‐infection (∼ 24 h) of calcifying strains and a shift towards large aggregates following EhV99B1‐infection. We also observed the formation of large aggregates with low blue:red ratios, suggesting that other exopolymer substances contribute towards aggregation. Our findings show the potential for virus infection and the associated response of their hosts to impact carbon flux dynamics and provide incentive to explore these dynamics in natural populations.