Epilithic Biofilms in Lake Baikal: Screening and Diversity of PKS and NRPS Genes in the Genomes of Heterotrophic Bacteria.

A collection of heterotrophic bacteria consisting of 167 strains was obtained from microbial communities of biofilms formed on solid substrates in the littoral zone of Lake Baikal. Based on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragments, the isolates were classified to four phyla: Proteobacteria , Firmicutes , Actinobacteria , and Bacteroidetes . To assess their biotechnological potential, bacteria were screened for the presence of PKS (polyketide synthase) and NRPS (non-ribosomal peptide synthetases) genes.

[Taxonomic Composition of Lake Baikal Bacterioneuston Communities].

The taxonomic composition of microbial communities of Lake Baikal surface microlayer was studied by pyrosequencing of the 16S rDNA amplicons. Statistically reliable differences were found between bacterioneuston of the shallow and deep-water stations. The shallow station community was characterized by higher diversity than the deep-water one.

[Diversity and Physiological and Biochemical Properties of Heterotrophic Bacteria. Isolated from Lake Baikal Neuston.].

For heterotrophic microorganisms (44 strains) isolated-from the surface film of Lake Baikal, iden- tification was carried out and their. physiological and biochemical characteristics were determined. Com- pared to the water column, diversity of cultured heterotrophs was low, indicating formation of stable micro- bial communities at the air-water interphase interface.

[Analysis of bacterial communities of two Lake Baikal endemic sponge species].

Bacterial diversity of two Lake Baikal endemic sponges characterized by different life forms, branching Lubomirskia baicalensis and cortical Baikalospongia sp., was studied using the method of 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene fragments. In the communities associated with L.

Application of a new cultivation technology, I-tip, for studying microbial diversity in freshwater sponges of Lake Baikal, Russia.

One of the fundamental methods for cultivating bacterial strains is conventional plating on solid media, but this method does not reveal the true diversity of the bacterial community. In this study, we develop a new technique and introduce a new device we term, I-tip. The I-tip was developed as an in situ cultivation device that allows microorganisms to enter and natural chemical compounds to diffuse, thereby permitting the microorganisms to grow utilizing chemical compounds in their natural environment.