A single-cell view on alga-virus interactions reveals sequential transcriptional programs and infection states

We performed single-cell transcriptome analysis (using MARS-seq) for the worldwide-distributed microalga Emiliania huxleyi during infection by its specific coccolithovirus. Our results provide insights into the expression programs and infection strategies of the large virus, and highlight the potential of single-cell RNA-sequencing for microbial eukaryotes in the lab and in the field. Cells were sorted into 384-well plates at different hours post infection (hpi) for single-cell RNA-seq, including 2 plates for control culture, 10 plates for infected culture (0-24 hpi), 1 plate for infected culture pretreated with translation-inhibitor cycloheximide (6 hpi), and 2 plates for culture mock-infected with UV-deactivated virus.