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Analysis of metagenomic data reveals common features of halophilic viral communities across continents
Author(s) -
Roux Simon,
Enault Francois,
Ravet Viviane,
Colombet Jonathan,
Bettarel Yvan,
Auguet JeanChristophe,
Bouvier Thierry,
LucasStaat Soizick,
Vellet Agnès,
Prangishvili David,
Forterre Patrick,
Debroas Didier,
SimeNgando Telesphore
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.13084
Subject(s) - halophile , biology , archaea , metagenomics , clade , horizontal gene transfer , ecology , evolutionary biology , viral evolution , phylogenetics , gene , genetics , genome , bacteria
Summary Microbial communities from hypersaline ponds, dominated by halophilic archaea, are considered specific of such extreme conditions. The associated viral communities have accordingly been shown to display specific features, such as similar morphologies among different sites. However, little is known about the genetic diversity of these halophilic viral communities across the E arth. Here, we studied viral communities in hypersaline ponds sampled on the coast of S enegal (8–36% of salinity) using metagenomics approach, and compared them with hypersaline viromes from A ustralia and S pain. The specificity of hyperhalophilic viruses could first be demonstrated at a community scale, salinity being a strong discriminating factor between communities. For the major viral group detected in all samples ( C audovirales), only a limited number of halophilic C audovirales clades were highlighted. These clades gather viruses from different continents and display consistent genetic composition, indicating that they represent related lineages with a worldwide distribution. Non‐tailed hyperhalophilic viruses display a greater rate of gene transfer and recombination, with uncharacterized genes conserved across different kind of viruses and plasmids. Thus, hypersaline viral communities around the world appear to form a genetically consistent community that are likely to harbour new genes coding for enzymes specifically adapted to these environments.