ISSN:
1433-4909
Keywords:
Key words Virus-like particles
;
Dead Sea
;
Halophilic
;
Archaea
;
Hypersaline
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Electron-microscopic examination of water samples from the hypersaline Dead Sea showed the presence of high numbers of virus-like particles. Between 0.9 and 7.3 × 107 virus-like particles ml−1 were enumerated in October 1994 in the upper 20 m of the water column during the decline of a bloom of halophilic Archaea. Virus-like particles outnumbered bacteria by a factor of 0.9–9.5 (average 4.4). A variety of viral morphologies were detected, the most often encountered being spindle-shaped, followed by polyhedral and tailed phages. In addition, other types of particles were frequently found, such as unidentified algal scales, and virus-sized star-shaped particles. Water samples collected during 1995 contained low numbers of both bacteria and virus-like particles (1.9–2.6 × 106 and 0.8–4.6 × 107 ml−1 in April 1995), with viral numbers sharply declining afterwards (less than 104 ml−1 in November 1995–January 1996). It is suggested that viruses may play a major role in the decline of halophilic archaeal communities in the Dead Sea, an environment in which protozoa and other predators are absent.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s007920050027
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