Virus Infection of Culturable <i>Chlorella</i> -Like Algae and Development of a Plaque Assay

Abstract

Four distinct viruses with double-stranded DNA are known to replicate in Chlorella-like algae symbiotic with hydras and paramecia. An attempt was made to infect a number of cultured Chlorella strains derived from invertebrate hosts with these viruses. One of the viruses, PBCV-1, replicated in two of the algal strains. Restriction endonuclease analysis of the viral DNA showed that the infectious progeny virus was identical to the input virus; thus, Koch's postulates were fulfilled. Viral infection of the two Chlorella strains has allowed the large-scale production of a eukaryotic algal virus and the development of a plaque assay for the virus.