Metagenomic Analysis of Virioplankton from the Pelagic Zone of Lake Baikal

A metagenomic analysis of Lake Baikal's viral communities during high-productivity periods reveals distinct seasonal shifts in virome composition. Tailed bacteriophages, particularly those from the Caudovirales order, dominate these ecosystems, with functional gene annotation showing a significant presence of 'Phages, Prophages, Transposable Elements and Plasmids' (27.4%) during the under-ice period, which decreases to 9.6% in late spring. Comparative analysis places Baikal's viromes within a distinct clade of the world's largest lakes, highlighting unique ecological patterns. The study employed separate and cross-assembly methods for contig assembly, providing insights into the lake's viral diversity and its relationship with other aquatic environments.

Potapov, S. A., Tikhonova, I. V., Krasnopeev, A. Yu., Kabilov, M. R., Tupikin, A. E., Chebunina, N. S., Zhuchenko, N. A., & Belykh, O. I. (2019). Metagenomic Analysis of Virioplankton from the Pelagic Zone of Lake Baikal. Viruses, 11(11), 991. https://doi.org/10.3390/v11110991