Marine bacteriophage: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
||
Resch A, Fehrenbacher B, Eisele K, Schaller M, Gotz F (2005) Phage release from biofilm and planktonic Staphylococcus aureus cells. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1:89-96. |
|||
Kellogg C, Rose J, Jiang S, Thurmond J, Paul J (1995) Genetic diversity of related vibriophages isolated from marine environments around Florida and Hawaii, USA. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 120:89-98. |
|||
Waldor M, Friedman D, Adhya S eds. (2005) Phage ecology and bacterial pathogenesis. In Phages: their role in bacterial pathogenesis and biotechnology pp 66-84. Washington DC: ASM Press. |
Waldor M, Friedman D, Adhya S eds. (2005) Phage ecology and bacterial pathogenesis. In Phages: their role in bacterial pathogenesis and biotechnology pp 66-84. Washington DC: ASM Press. |
||
Revision as of 01:05, 31 March 2008
Marine bacteriophages or marine phages are viruses that live as obligate parasitic agents in marine bacteria such as cyanobacteria.[1] Their existence was discovered through electron microscopy and Epifluorescence microscopy of ecological water samples, and later through genomic sampling of uncultured viral samples.[1] The tailed bacteriophages appear to dominate marine ecosystems in number and diversity of orgamisms.[1]
Bacteriophages, viruses that are parasitic on bacteria, were first discovered in the early twentieth century. Scientists today consider that their importance in ecosystems, particularly marine ecosystems, has been underestimated, leading to these infectious agents being poorly investigated and their numbers and species biodiversity being greatly under reported.
Marine phages
Marine phages, although invisible and essentially unnoticed by scientists until recently, appear to be the most abundant and diverse form of DNA replicating agent on the planet. They appear to influence biogeochemical cycles globally, provide and regulate microbial biodiversity, cycle carbon through marine food webs, and are essential in preventing bacterial population explosions.
Scientists are exploring the potential of marine cyanophage to be used to prevent or reverse eutrophication, for example.
References
- ^ a b c Mann, NH (2005-05-17). [7885/3/5/pdf/10.1371_journal.pbio.0030182-S.pdf "The third age of phage"] (PDF). PloS Biol. 3 (5). United States: Public Library of Science: 753–755. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030182. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
{{cite journal}}: Check|url=value (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
Waldor M, Friedman D, Adhya S eds. (2005) Phage ecology and bacterial pathogenesis. In Phages: their role in bacterial pathogenesis and biotechnology pp 66-84. Washington DC: ASM Press.
Wommack K, Hill T, Muller A, Colwell R (1996) Effects of sunlight on bacteriophage viability and structure. Appl Environ Microbiol 62:1336-1341.