The genetic diversity of T4-like bacteriophages in biofilms formed on various substrates in the littoral zone of Lake Baikal was studied for the first time. Gene markers for the major capsid protein gp23 were used to identify bacteriophages. There are 72 unique nucleotide sequences of g23 gene fragment in the Baikal biofilm samples. Phages possessed high genetic diversity. Most of the sequences (84,7 %) belonged to the Cyano T4 group. The cultured phages showed the highest similarity (78 % at the nucleotide level) with Synechococcus phage S-CAM1. At the nucleotide level, the majority of sequences reported here were similar to those from Lake Baikal (43 %); 18 % – to the sequences from East Lake, 12,5% – to the sequences from Bourget and Annecy lakes; 26,5 % – the sequences from the rest places (less than 5,5 % each). The composition of viral communities depended on the habitat. We have indicated that the community of T4-like bacteriophages from sponges have the highest similarity with planktonic sequences of bacteriophages. We show that bacteriophages from biotopes of biofilms of stones and sponges from the littoral zone and of the water column earlier in the pelagic zone of Lake Baikal form a common Baikal cluster.

Potapov Sergey Anatolyevich, Сhief Specialist in Virology, Limnological Institute SB RAS, 3, Ulan-Batorskaya St., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952) 42–54–15, e-mail: poet1988@list.ru 

Krasnopeev Andrey Yurievich, Leading Engineer, Limnological Institute SB RAS, 3, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952) 42–54–15, e-mail: andrewkrasnopeev@gmail.com 

Tikhonova Irina Vasilevna, Candidate of Sciences (Biology), Senior Research Scientist, Limnological Institute SB RAS, 3, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952) 42–54–15, e-mail: iren@lin.irk.ru 

Galachyants Agniya Dmitrievna, Leading Engineer, Limnological Institute SB RAS, 3, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952) 42–26–95, e-mail: shamshurasya@gmail.com 

Podlesnaya Galina Vladimirovna, Leading Engineer, Limnological Institute SB RAS, 3, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952) 42–26–95, e-mail: podlesnaya@lin.irk.ru 

Khanaev Igor Veniaminovich, Senior Research Scientist, Limnological Institute SB RAS, 3, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952) 42–26–95, e-mail: igkhan@lin.irk.ru 

Belykh Olga Ivanovna, Candidate of Sciences (Biology), Leading Research Scientist, Associate Professor, Limnological Institute SB RAS, 3, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952) 42–54–15, e-mail: belykh@lin.irk.ru

Potapov S.A., Krasnopeev A.Yu., Tikhonova I.V., Galachyants A.D., Podlesnaya G.V., Khanaev I.V., Belykh O.I. Characterization of the Genetic Diversity of T4-like Bacteriophages in Benthic Biofilms of Lake Baikal. The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Biology. Ecology, 2018, vol. 25, pp. 15-31. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3372.2018.25.15 (in Russian)

biofilms, bacteriophages, diversity, Myoviridae, g23, lake Baikal

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