Antarctic Bacteriophages: Their Ecological Role and Biotechnological Potential

Abstract

Viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages or phages) are the most abundant biological entities in thebiosphere. Phages play a central role in shaping microbial communities and regulating global biogeochemicalcycles. Two major biological cycles characterize phages: the lytic and the lysogenic cycles. This study focuseson the lysogenic cycle, in which phages integrate into the bacterial genome. The study of bacterium–phagesystems in Antarctic environments is of particular interest due to the extreme environmental conditionsunder which these interactions occur. Antarctic bacteria isolated from different habitats were investigatedto characterize their lysogenic viruses. Bizionia argentinensis, Rhodococcus spp. strain ADH, and Agreiaspp. were characterized both in silico and in vitro for the presence of integrated phages (prophages). Theseprophages harbor a genetic repertoire that may play a central role in host–environment interactions. Inaddition, some prophage-derived genes (including endolysins, enzymes that lyse bacterial cell walls) havepotential biotechnological applications. In particular, enzymes adapted to function at low temperaturescould be exploited for industrial use.