Study of population dynamics of host population during viral infection

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26291092
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Ueki Shoko 岡山大学, その他部局等, 助教 (50622023)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 佐藤 昌直 慶應義塾大学, その他の研究科, 助教 (20517693) ; 中山 奈津子 国立研究開発法人水産研究・教育機構, その他部局等, 研究員 (20612675)
• Research Collaborator: Higashi Aiko 岡山大学, 資源植物科学研究所, 非常勤研究員 ; Kobashi Rieko 岡山大学, 資源植物科学研究所, 非常勤職員
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 宿主 / ウイルス / 個体群 / 感染 / 遺伝子型

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The initial goal of the project was to analyze the infection process of Heterosigma akashiwo virus (HaV) to its host population, bloom-forming algae, Heterosigma akashiwo, that consisted from strains showing the different reactions to HaV infection. During the project, we completed the whole genome sequencing and gene predictions of HaV, and obtained the insights into the evolutionary and phylogenetical position to other giant double-stranded DNA viruses. In addition, contradicting to the initial understanding, we found out that the host reactions to HaV infection were not only determined by the host genotypes, but also by the presence/absence or the species of the accomplice bacteria associating to the host. The project developed into direction unpredicted when it was initially planed: however, the insights obtained by the project will provide infrastructure for future studies about H. akashiwo and its virus from cellular and molecular biology view points.

Free Research Field

生態・環境