Algae Virus

Dear Colleagues,

We are celebrating 40 years of algal virus research. This celebration corresponds with the 80th year of Jim Van Etten’s life, a founding father of the field of algal virology. Initial observations were of virus-like particles associated with the zoochlorellae of Paramecium bursaria (Kawakami and Kawakami, 1978).  Over the years, algal virus research has blossomed, illuminating many significant findings, including:  i) their diversity (RNA and DNA viruses), distributions and abundances, ii) their role in ecosystems functions, iii) their place as founding members of the “giant viruses,” iv) the insights gained by the evaluation of their complex genome and virion structures, v) the many unusual and un-expected genes for a virus, and vi) the evolutionary connection of certain algal viruses to the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs). 

This Special Issue of Viruses focuses on “Algal Viruses”, and we have outlined the “Five Great Questions of Algal Virology” as the guiding principle for this issue. The Five Great Questions are:

1. What is an algal virus?
2. How do algal viruses move?
3. How do algal viruses replicate?
4. What are the consequences of algal virus infections?
5. Why are algal viruses successful? 

We invite you to help us celebrate the exciting field of algal virology, as well as Jim Van Etten’s significant contributions to algal virology by submitting your current findings to this Special Issue and relate your studies to the Five Great Questions. We also encourage you to make any personal comments on your relationship with Jim Van Etten, and/or how his career may have impacted yours. This is an exciting time to be studying the algal viruses and we look forward to learning of your current research interests and sharing those findings through this Special Issue.   

Prof. David D. Dunigan
Guest Editor

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