T4-type bacteriophage genetic diversity in wetland sediments in northeast China

Abstract:

[Objective] To provide scientific data for studying the ecology of bacteriophage in natural environments, the genetic diversity and distribution patterns of g23 of T4-type bacteriophage in wetland sediments were revealed.[Methods] Degenerate primers MZIA1bis and MZIA6 were used to PCR amplification of g23 gene of T4-type bacteriophages, and the PCR products were cloned and sequenced to reveal the diversity of g23 sequences in 6 different wetland sediment samples obtained from northeast China. In addition, the Unifrac analysis was used to compare the T4-type bacteriophage community structures in wetland sediments with those in other environments.[Results] In total, 262 different g23 clones of T4-type bacteriophage were obtained. Neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree showed that the distribution of g23 genes in wetland sediments was similar to those in aquatic ecosystems such as oceans and lakes and paddy ecosystems, but distinctly different from those in upland black soils. In addition, the T4-type bacteriophage community as evaluated by g23 gene assembles was remarkably different among different wetlands.[Conclusion] The composition of T4-type bacteriophage community was complex and diverse in wetland ecosystem, and the novel g23 groups of T4-type bacteriophage existed in wetland sediments in northeast China.