Virus-like Particles in Unicellular Apochlorotic Microorganisms in the Coastal Water of Japan

Abstract

Virus-like particles (VLPs) were found in several kinds of unicellular apochlorotic microorganisms in the electron microscopical samples obtained from three stations in the coastal water of Japan. All of the observed VLPs were icosahedral and 175-335 nm in diameter. Some of the host cells had apparent food vacuoles indicating that they were phagotrophic. These observations suggest that viral multiplication may effect the dynamics of unicellular apochlorotic microorganisms including heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF), grazers of bacteria. © 1995, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.