Virus diversity in Antarctic biotopes remains understudied. Here, we describe bacteriophages isolated from terrestrial environments, provide data on their natural bacterial hosts and study phage-host systems. Six bacterial isolates (FCKU 539, FCKU 533, FCKU 534, FCKU 538, FCKU 542 and FCKU 540) were recovered and characterized. Isolated bacteria belonged to Pseudomonas genus (Pseudomonas sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida) with optimal cultivation temperatures of 16–28°C. These bacteria and previously described Bacillus subtilis FCKU 537 were used for analysing virus-host interactions. Six lytic phages were isolated and named P. fluorescens Antarctic virus 1 (PFAV1), P. fluorescens Antarctic virus 2 (PFAV2), P. fluorescens Antarctic virus 3 (PFAV3), P. putida Antarctic virus 4 (PPAV4), Pseudomonas sp. Antarctic virus 5 (PSAV5) and B. subtilis Antarctic virus 6 (BSAV6) in relation to their natural hosts. According to electron microscopy data, these phages belonged to Caudovirales order. Cross-inoculation demonstrated high specificity of all Antarctic phages, which infected only their initial hosts at moderate temperatures. PFAV2 and PFAV3 phages also infected laboratory Pseudomonas savastanoi and P. fluorescens isolates. This paper adds new data on the occurrence and diversity of viruses and their respective bacterial hosts in soil biotopes of Antarctica.
Until now, there is a little number of scientifically investigated phages, in comparison to other biological representatives of the micro and macro world. Their properties are well studies only for a small number of so-called model bacteriophages. At the same time, the extraction of phages from ecosystems that function in low temperatures represents considerable scientific interest and has some methodological difficulties. The aim of the research was to study the diversity of viruses of bacteria isolated from the moss and soil of Antarctic plants. Methods: isolation of bacteriophages from moss and soil specimens, titration by the Gratia method, accumulation of phages in a liquid nutrient medium with forced aeration, electron microscopy, statistical methods. Results: The isolation of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) from moss and soil biotops has been carried out. The morphology of negative colonies and viral particles of obtained phage isolates is described. Start of the negative colonies formation was observed in 5–7 days, in others after 7–10 days. Their formation was completed after 10–12 days. The longest formation of negative colonies occurred precisely on strains of Antarctic bacterial cultures. Their taxonomic diversity is established. The detected viral particles were represented by different morphotypes, which are typical for the viruses of the families Myoviridae, Podoviridae and Siphoviridae of the Caudovirales order. Conclusions: isolates of phages to sensitive bacteria were extracted. A description of the diversity of bacteriophages has been made, which shows the taxonomic diversity of bacteriophages in the terrestrial biotopes of the islands of the Argentine archipelago and collection according to their characteristics was created.
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