Diversity and biogeography of bacteriophages in biofilms of Lake Baikal based on g23 sequences

Abstract

Here, we report on the sequences of the g23 communities of phages from biofilms and the surface microlayer in the most ancient lake of the world. The data are interpreted in terms of biogeography of the g23 communities. We show that bacteriophages from biotopes of biofilms of stones and sponges from the littoral zone and of the water from the pelagic zone of Lake Baikal form a common Baikal cluster. Viruses of the surface microlayer in the shallow Maloye More Strait of Lake Baikal group into one cluster with the sequences from polar lakes forming a sisterly clade with the Baikal cluster.