Publications by authors named "Natalie A Sawaya"
Advances in metagenomics have revealed the ubiquity of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) phage belonging to the subfamily Gokushovirinae in the oceans; however, the abundance and ecological roles of this group are unknown. Here, we quantify gokushoviruses through adaptation of the polony method, in which viral template DNA is immobilized in a gel, amplified by PCR, and subsequently detected by hybridization. Primers and probes for this assay were designed based on PCR amplicon diversity of gokushovirus major capsid protein gene sequences from a depth profile in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea sampled in September 2015.
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- * A study at Manatee Springs found a dramatic increase in prokaryotic and viral abundance as water moved from the spring to the Suwannee River, with few spring species remaining in the river environment.
- * The composition of these microbial communities varied by location and season, indicating that environmental factors like flow and water chemistry influence community dynamics, with distinct communities supported by different first-magnitude springs.
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- Aquifers are vital underground freshwater sources, and this study focuses on the microbial life in the outflow from five springs in northern Florida, shedding light on communities in the Floridan aquifer, known for its productivity.
- The research found that the abundance of virus-like particles and prokaryotic cells in these springs was slightly lower compared to other groundwater systems, while molecular sequencing revealed distinct microbial communities shaped by local land usage.
- The study also identified 58 new viral genomes, highlighting the prevalence of single-stranded DNA viruses in these springs, suggesting a rich biodiversity in these understudied ecosystems that warrants further exploration.
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- Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to genetic material found in the environment, which can be analyzed to identify various species present in an ecosystem, offering more detailed data than traditional visual surveys.
- A study in the Florida Keys used eDNA metabarcoding to analyze two genetic markers (COI and 18S rRNA), uncovering 785 genera from the 18S rRNA and 115 genera from the COI, with only 33 shared between them, indicating that different markers reveal complementary biodiversity information.
- Findings highlighted that temporal factors (time of sampling) significantly influence biodiversity in the area, with the study successfully identifying both pelagic (open ocean) and benthic (seafloor) species, emphasizing the potential
Zooplankton dominate the abundance and biomass of multicellular animals in pelagic marine environments; however, traditional methods to characterize zooplankton communities are invasive and laborious. This study compares zooplankton taxonomic composition revealed through metabarcoding of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and 18S rRNA genes to traditional morphological identification by microscopy. Triplicates of three different sample types were collected from three coral reef sites in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: (1) 1 L surface seawater samples prefiltered through 3 m filters and subsequently collected on 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses numerically dominate our oceans; however, we have only just begun to document the diversity, host range and infection dynamics of marine viruses, as well as the subsequent effects of infection on both host cell metabolism and oceanic biogeochemistry. Bacteriophages (that is, phages: viruses that infect bacteria) are highly abundant and are known to play critical roles in bacterial mortality, biogeochemical cycling and horizontal gene transfer. This Review Article summarizes current knowledge of marine viral ecology and highlights the importance of phage particles to the dissolved organic matter pool, as well as the complex interactions between phages and their bacterial hosts.
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