阿米巴藻（Amoebophrya spp.）是一类感染海洋浮游甲藻类的寄生性甲藻。该寄生性甲藻感染、寄生于甲藻类宿主，在宿主细胞内大量增殖导致宿主细胞裂解、破碎，在甲藻赤潮的生消过程中发挥重要作用。近年来，阿米巴藻在海洋生态系统中的独特作用受到国际上越来越多研究者的关注和重视，逐渐成为国际上海洋微型生物研究的新兴热点。课题组前期研究发现该寄生性甲藻在我国近海海域广泛存在，感染多种浮游甲藻，且具有较高的遗传多样性；然而，由于难于建立室内培养，该类寄生性甲藻与其宿主甲藻间的相互作用尚不明确。因此，本项目拟以寄生于我国近海典型赤潮甲藻——红色赤潮藻的阿米巴藻株系为实验对象，系统研究该寄生性甲藻扩散、侵染过程及其对宿主甲藻生理特征的影响，进一步探讨宿主甲藻响应阿米巴藻侵染的生态策略。该项目的实施有助于明确寄生性甲藻在甲藻赤潮生消过程中的作用，进一步揭示寄生性甲藻类群在海洋生态系统中的功能。

Amoebophrya spp. is a type of parasitic dinoflagellates infecting marine dinoflagellates. The parasite eventually kills its host by proliferates in host cell and has been proposed to be a significant loss factor for dinoflagellate blooms. Its ecological significance was gradually recognized in recent years by researchers around the word. Lately, we revealed the widespread occurrence and genetic diversity of Amoebophrya in the coastal waters of China based on genomic sequencing of environmental samples as well as microscopic observation. The parasitic dinoflagellate infected various groups of dinoflagellates. While, little is known regarding the parasite-host interaction between Amoebophrya and its planktonic dinoflagellate hosts, due to the difficulties of establishing laboratory cultures. Hence, based on our previous studies, we propose to use the Akashiwo sanguinea-Amoebophrya sp. co-culture as a parasite-host model, to investigate the spread and invasion process of Amoebophrya, study its physiological effects to host cells, and explore the induced defensive responses of A. sanguinea. The successful carryout of this proposal will further reveal the roles of parasitic dinoflagellate Amoebophrya during the occurrence and demise of dinoflagellate blooms, and further elucidate the ecological significance of parasitic dinoflagellates in marine ecosystem.