Virus Infection of Culturable Chlorella -Like Algae and Development of a Plaque Assay

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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.