Viral Chemotaxis of Paramecium Bursaria Altered by Algal Endosymbionts

Authors

Huy V.N. Ho, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
David Dunigan, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Miranda E. Salsbery, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Irina Agarkova, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Zeina Al-Ameeli, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
James L. Van Etten, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
John DeLong, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2023

Citation

Published in Microbial Ecology, 2023

doi:10.1007/s00248-023-02292-w

Comments

Copyright © 2023 Ho et al., under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. Used by permission.

Abstract

Chemotaxis is widespread across many taxa and often aids resource acquisition or predator avoidance. Species interactions can modify the degree of movement facilitated by chemotaxis. In this study, we investigated the influence of symbionts on Paramecium bursaria’s chemotactic behavior toward chloroviruses. To achieve this, we performed choice experiments using chlorovirus and control candidate attractors (virus stabilization buffer and pond water). We quantified the movement of Paramecia grown with or without algal and viral symbionts toward each attractor. All Paramecia showed some chemotaxis toward viruses, but cells without algae and viruses showed the most movement toward viruses. Thus, the endosymbiotic algae (zoochlorellae) appeared to alter the movement of Paramecia toward chloroviruses, but it was not clear that ectosymbiotic viruses (chlorovirus) also had this effect. The change in behavior was consistent with a change in swimming speed, but a change in attraction remains possible. The potential costs and benefits of chemotactic movement toward chloroviruses for either the Paramecia hosts or its symbionts remain unclear.