Diversity and Distribution Characteristics of Viruses from Soda Lakes

Genes (Basel). 2023 Jan 26;14(2):323. doi: 10.3390/genes14020323.

Abstract

Viruses are the most abundant living things and a source of genetic variation. Despite recent research, we know little about their biodiversity and geographic distribution. We used different bioinformatics tools, MG-RAST, genome detective web tools, and GenomeVx, to describe the first metagenomic examination of haloviruses in Wadi Al-Natrun. The discovered viromes had remarkably different taxonomic compositions. Most sequences were derived from double-stranded DNA viruses, especially from Myoviridae, Podoviridae, Siphoviridae, Herpesviridae, Bicaudaviridae, and Phycodnaviridae families; single-stranded DNA viruses, especially from the family Microviridae; and positive-strand RNA viruses, especially from the family Potyviridae. Additionally, our results showed that Myohalovirus chaoS9 has eight Contigs and is annotated to 18 proteins as follows: tail sheath protein, tco, nep, five uncharacterized proteins, HCO, major capsid protein, putative pro head protease protein, putative head assembly protein, CxxC motive protein, terl, HTH domain protein, and terS Exon 2. Additionally, Halorubrum phage CGphi46 has 19 proteins in the brine sample as follows: portal protein, 17 hypothetical proteins, major capsid protein, etc. This study reveals viral lineages, suggesting the Virus's global dispersal more than other microorganisms. Our study clarifies how viral communities are connected and how the global environment changes.

Keywords: brine; haloviruses; hypersaline; metagenomic; viromes; viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodiversity
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Lakes
  • Myoviridae / genetics
  • Siphoviridae*
  • Viruses* / genetics

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins

Grants and funding

This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, under grant no. G: 392-305-1443. The authors, therefore, acknowledge the DSR with thanks for technical and financial support.