Project
Let’s Go VirAl
Our team investigates a novel virus that infects marine microalgae for the development of new molecular and synthetic biology tools for genetic engineering of microalgae. We do this by characterizing the genome of the chosen virus, as well as understanding how it interacts with is microalgal host.
Background
The establishment of microalgae as industrially robust protein production platform is hindered by low productivities and limited genetic engineering tools. Here, we investigate viruses infecting microalgae as a way to more easily expand the molecular toolbox for microalgae, by using their natural capability to efficiently infiltrate and control their hosts molecular machinery. Viruses are the most numerous entities in aquatic environments, and it’s estimated that every microalga can be infected by at least one virus.
Therefore, microalgae-infecting viruses are an untapped source of novel molecular tools for transgene expression in microalgae.
Project description
By combining -omics technology, molecular cloning and bioinformatics, we aim to answer fundamental AND biotechnological questions such as:
- What proteins and regulatory elements compose the genome of this virus?
- How does the virus infect the host cells and controls the host cellular machinery?
- How does the infection cycle work at an -omics level?
- Does the host have anti-viral responses?
- Can we use the viral’s natural ability to control the host transcription/translation machinery as a novel molecular biology tool?
- Can we use elements in the viral genome for expanding microalgae genetic engineering tools?
Image credit: Hanna Mossfeldt, 2006-03-01, CC BY-ND 3.0, via nordicmicroalgae.org
