ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate the composition and diversity of endolithic bacteria at special habitats in Xinjiang. METHODS: Five rock samples were collected, including Wusu's granite (sample 1), Glacier No. 1, and Mulei's metamorphic rock (sample 2, sample 3), Yumin and Tokesun's Rock varnish (sample 4, sample 5). Endolithic bacterial community composition and diversity were analyzed by the method of Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism. RESULTS: Differences in diversity indexes among samples were not apparent. Clustering analysis suggested that similarity coefficient was higher in same rock type, sample 2 and sample 3 were grouped together, then sample 1 clustered with them, and sample 4 and sample 5 were classified together. All samples harbored these phyla such as Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Acidobacteria and Planctomycetes existed in sample 1 and sample 2, respectively; Sample 5 was dominated by Actinobacteria, while other samples were dominated by Proteobacteria. CONCLUSION: The endolithic bacterial composition of same rock type collected at various habitats was different. Meanwhile, a diversity of novel species and lineages maybe existed in rocks.