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Viral Ecology
Unveiling the role of viruses in the Oceans
Viruses are the most abundant and diverse biological entities on the planet.
There are about one million viruses per teaspoon of seawater, and 10 million viruses per gram of soil.
Yet, we still have a very minimal idea about the contribution of viral infections to microbial diversity, metabolism, and ecology.
Our goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms and ecosystem outcomes of interactions between bacterial viruses (phages) and their bacterial hosts in marine environments.
There are about one million viruses per teaspoon of seawater, and 10 million viruses per gram of soil.
Yet, we still have a very minimal idea about the contribution of viral infections to microbial diversity, metabolism, and ecology.
Our goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms and ecosystem outcomes of interactions between bacterial viruses (phages) and their bacterial hosts in marine environments.
Molecular drivers of phage-bacteria interactions Phages can establish different ecological relationships with the bacteria they infect, from predators to commensals. Our aim to understand the molecular drivers of these diverse interactions in marine microbial communities |
Phage-bacteria-coral symbiosisCorals live in symbiotic partnership with a milieu of bacteria and phage. The different phage replication strategies shape the microbiome of the coral host and modulate the interplay between commensal and pathogenic microbes. |
Phage-mediated coral diseaseLysogenic conversion of bacteria drives the emergence of human and animal pathogens. We are demonstrating that this process also happens in marine ecosystems, and is a threat for coral heath. |
Our lab is part of the Symbiosis Group at the University of Miami
NEWS
New PhD students!Alexandra Stiffler and Bailey Wallace
are joining in the fall Allie and Bailey will be joining the Silveira Lab this coming fall semester as PhD students in the Biology program. Allie graduated with a B.S in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology as well as Genetics from Purdue University, where she studied protein interactions within a unique class of enzymes and their contribution to the virulence of the stomach pathogen H. pylori. Bailey completed her B.S. in Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies at UW-Madison. Since graduating, her work has focused on coral reef ecology and restoration with Mote Marine Laboratory as well as STEM outreach and education.
Congratulations, Allie and Bailey, we can’t wait to see you in Miami! |
Contest WinnerNatascha Varona wins American Society of Microbiology Art Contest
One of our grad students, Natascha Varona has won first place in the general art category of ASM Agar's art contest for her piece, titled "Ocean's Glow." This piece is inspired by her time spent doing fluorescent microscopy! Read more about Natascha's inspiration and see her piece featured on the ASM Agar website.
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New PublicationWe made the cover!
Coral Reef Restoration through Manipulation of Coral Holobionts 
Climate change and environmental degradation are causing a global deterioration of coral reefs. Large-scale restoration efforts are necessary to counter the environmental pressures relevant to climate change projections. This review, led by Christian Voolstra, aims to extend the natural adaptive capacity of reef-forming coral holobionts to manipulate coral adaptive responses to survive under more extreme or variable conditions. If tailored to address the diverse reef, environmental, and ecological conditions, these strategies hold the promise to be feasible and scalable to the real world.
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