Gene regulation and interaction with gonadotrophin production in commercial fish species is being explored. The basic mechanisms of gene regulation in finfish ovarian and testicular tissue types is being explored. It has been determined that viruses occur naturally in large numbers in aquatic systems. They appear to play an active role in marine ecosystems. Their hosts are presumed to be bacteria and phytoplankton.
Viruses are generally host-specific.
Because they are morphologically similar, they are distinguished by their nucleic acid characteristics. The development of new technologies enables scientists to catalogue increasing numbers of marine viruses. The use of the confocal microscope provides excellent viewing without the disadvantages of embedding and sectioning that the electron-microscope requires. One of the major reasons for studying marine viruses is that they may be implicated in regulating algal blooms, the toxic effects of which have many environmental and economic consequences. This project explores the morphological properties and physiology of viruses that occur in association with marine cyanobacteria, symbionts of sponges and other marine invertebrates.