[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. While bacterioneuston communities were shown to be less diverse than the water column communities, their diversity was comparable to that of other biofilm associations. Microbial communities of Lake Baikal surface microlayer were shown to be similar to those of the water column in the composition of predominant phyla, while differing considerably at the genus level. Bacterioneuston of Lake Baikal was comparable to microbial communities of the surface microlayer of other freshwater basins, although it was characterized by high abundance of the Alphaproteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. High abundance of photoheterotrophs compared to the water column communities of other freshwater basins was another distinctive feature of Lake Baikal bacterioneuston. Our results showed the Lake Baikal surface microlayer to be a specific microbial community with low species diversity and relatively high abundance of photoheterotrophic microorganisms.

[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. Heterotrophic bacteria isolated from the surface mi- crolayer exhibited the enzymatic activity comparable to that for strains form other biofilm associations. Deinococcusfi6us strain NA202 'vas the most active component of the community, capable of utilization of the broadest spectrum of mono- and disaccharides,'sugars, and amino acids. This strain possessed the highest diversity of extracellular enzymes and was the most resistant to UV radiation. The physiological and bio- chemical properties of this strain may-be responsible for its adaptation to survival in extreme conditions of the surface microlayer. Our results improve our understanding of occurrence of UV-resistant strains in freshwater ecosystems.

[Phylogenetic analysis of bacteria of extreme ecosystems].

Phylogenetic analysis of aerobic chemoorganotrophic bacteria of the two extreme regions (Dead Sea and West Antarctic) was performed on the basis of the nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA gene. Thermotolerant and halotolerant spore-forming bacteria 7t1 and 7t3 of terrestrial ecosystems Dead Sea identified as Bacillus licheniformis and B. subtilis subsp. subtilis, respectively. Taking into account remote location of thermotolerant strain 6t1 from closely related strains in the cluster Staphylococcus, 6t1 strain can be regarded as Staphylococcus sp. In terrestrial ecosystems, Galindez Island (Antarctic) detected taxonomically diverse psychrotolerant bacteria. From ornithogenic soil were isolated Micrococcus luteus O-1 and Microbacterium trichothecenolyticum O-3. Strains 4r5, 5r5 and 40r5, isolated from grass and lichens, can be referred to the genus Frondihabitans. These strains are taxonomically and ecologically isolated and on the tree diagram form the joint cluster with three isolates Frondihabitans sp., isolated from the lichen Austrian Alps, and psychrotolerant associated with plants F. cladoniiphilus CafT13(T). Isolates from black lichen in the different stationary observation points on the south side of a vertical cliff identified as: Rhodococcus fascians 181n3, Sporosarcina aquimarina O-7, Staphylococcus sp. 0-10. From orange biofilm of fouling on top of the vertical cliff isolated Arthrobacter sp. 28r5g1, from the moss-- Serratia sp. 6r1g. According to the results, Frondihabitans strains most frequently encountered among chemoorganotrophic aerobic bacteria in the Antarctic phytocenoses.

[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. baicalensis and Baikalospongia sp., 426 and 428 OTUs, respectively, were identified. In microbial associations of these spong- es, 24 bacterial phyla were identified, with predominance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Analysis of the taxonomic composition of bacterial communities of the sponges was carried out by search of the dominant phylotypes within the phylum level cluster. Comparison of bacterial associations of the sponges with Lake Baikal bacterioplankton revealed both the shared OTUs and the unique ones characteristic of the studied species.

[Effect of different calcium hypochlorite concentrations on the survival of potentially pathogenic microorganisms isolated from Baikal Lake].

The survival rate of bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas and Enterococcus isolated from Baikal Lake, exposed to different concentration of calcium hypochlorite used as a main agent for drinking water disinfection, was studied. Experimental studies have shown that chlorination was imperfect as this method is not always effective against Enterococci.

[Distribution of strains of spore-forming bacteria of the genus Bacillus in the bottom sediments of Lake Khubsugul in Northern Mongolia as an indication of paleoclimate].

Data on the distribution and abundance of bacteria of the genus Bacillus in the bottom sediments of Lake Khubsugul have shown the predominance of strains that preferred low temperatures. This indicates fairly cold temperature conditions on the territory of the Khubsugul drainage area. On the whole, the dynamics of interchange of minimums and maximums of abundance of bacteria of the genus Bacillus is similar to the global climate fluctuations. Study of the enzymatic activity of pure cultures revealed that most strains studied possessed proteolytic activity; consequently, the dynamics of bacteria development is correlated with the supply of organic nitrogen-containing compositions.

[Microbial community of freshwater sponges in Lake Baikal].

The microbial community of Baikal sponges has been studied in five species belonging to the genera Swartschewskia, Baicalospongia, and Lubomirskia of the endemic family Lubomirskiidae. The results show that the total numbers of bacteria and bacterioplankton production have an effect on the growth of L. baicalensis body. Bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Micrococcus, Sarcina, Flavobacterium, Arthrobacter, and Acinetobacter living in the sponges are representatives of the Baikal bacterioplankton. Actinomycetes of the genera Streptomyces and Micromonospora are a permanent component of the cultivable sponge microbial community. The numbers and enzyme activities of heterotrophic, oligotrophic, and psychrophilic bacteria isolated from different sponge species and the surrounding water in autumn and in winter have been estimated.

[Study on the Lake Baikal microbial community in the areas of the natural oil seeps].

We studied the composition of a natural microbial community, the distribution of different groups of microorganisms (including those able to degrade oil hydrocarbons) within the areas of natural oil seeps in the Lake Baikal. It was revealed that, in the bottom sediments, the oil-degrading microorganisms dominating the community have included the bacteria of g. Bacillus, while in the water column, dominating microbes are presented by species of genera Rhodococcus Pseudomonas, and Micrococcus. Under the conditions of the model experiment, the potential activity of Baikal microbes towards utilization of n-alcanes has been assessed. Under such conditions it was shown that the concentration of n-alcanes decreases to 60% during 20 days of the experiment (the initial oil concentration was 0.5 mg/l, i.e., ten maximal permissible concentrations, MPC).

[Comparative characteristics of microbial communities in two regions of natural oil seepage in Lake Baikal].

Microbial communities and hydrocarbon contents have been studied in two regions of natural oil seepage in Lake Baikal: (1) opposite the Bol'shaya Zelenovskaya River mouth (studied previously) and (2) near Cape Gorevoi Utes (discovered in 2005). The abundance of both heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms is significantly higher in water samples from the first region, where the oil is biologically degraded. In the surface soil layer at stations located in the immediate vicinity of oil seepage site, the abundance of n-alkane-oxidizing microorganisms reaches 2000 cells/ml, and that of oil-oxidizing microorganisms reaches 2600 cells/ml. In water samples from near Cape Gorevoi Utes, the abundance of these groups of microorganisms does not exceed 190 and 500 cells/ml, respectively.

[Spatial distribution and species composition of prosthecate bacteria in Lake Baikal].

From the water column of Lake Baikal, several strains of prosthecate bacteria belonging to the genera Caulobacter and Brevundimonas were isolated. In this article, the methods applied for their isolation and cell number determination are described; the occurrence frequency and spatial distribution of these microorganisms in the lake are demonstrated. Characterization of the species composition of cultivable and uncultivable prosthecate bacteria was carried out using the methods of traditional and molecular microbiology, respectively. A comparative phylogenetic analysis of the DNA sequences of uncultivable bacteria, which showed homology to the members of the alpha subclass of proteobacteria, was carried out. It was demonstrated that the lake water column is inhabited by uncultivable alpha-proteobacteria of uncertain phylogenetic affinity, in addition to representatives of the species Caulobacter vibrioides and C. leidyi, which were detected by traditional microbiological methods.

[Antagonistic activity of actinomycetes of Lake Baikal].

It was demonstrated that actinomycetes of Lake Baikal are strong antagonists of other microorganisms. Representatives of the genera Streptomyces and Micromonospora inhibit the growth of bacteria isolated from the lake, as well as of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms causing various human diseases. Baikal actinomycetes display a wide range of antagonistic activity and are potential producers of new biologically active substances.

[Biodiversity and activity of the microbial community in the Kotelnikovsky Hot Springs (Lake Baikal)].

Complex microbiological and chemical analyses of water and bacterial mats were performed in the Kotelnikovsky Hot Springs (Lake Baikal). Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that short rods about 1.2-2 microm in diameter predominated in the natural microbial community. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with chemical analysis revealed a characteristic P peak in the bacteria-like mineral particles, which suggests their biogenic origin. Most strains of the thermophilic microorganisms were gram-positive spore-forming rods and can be assigned to the genus Bacillus. Assays for potential enzyme activity demonstrated that most of the strains tested were active at high temperature. The data obtained suggest high activity of the bacterial community in situ and its particular role in the functioning of the hydrothermal ecosystem.

[Microbial biodiversity in the Lake Baikal water]. / Kharacteristika bioraznoobraziia mikrobnogo soobshchestva vodnoi tolshchi ozera Baikal.

The investigation of the microbial community of Lake Baikal by the methods of general and molecular microbiology showed that culturable bacterial strains were represented by various known genera. The lake water contains a great number of bacterial morphotypes, as revealed by electron microscopy, and a great diversity of nonculturable microorganisms belonging to different phylogenetic groups, as revealed by 16S rRNA gene fragment sequencing. The inference is made that the microbial community of Lake Baikal contains not only the known species but also new, possibly endemic to the lake, bacterial species.

[Degradation of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate by microorganisms of water and sediments of the Selenga river and Baikal Lake under experimental conditions]. / Degradatsiia bis-(2-étilgeksil)ftalata mikroorganizmami vody i donnykh osadkov r. Selengi i oz. Baikal v usloviiakh model'nogo éksperimenta.

Degradation of bis-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (BEHP) by microbial associations of water and bottom sediments of the Selenga River and Lake Baikal and by pure cultures of microbial species belonging to various taxa isolated from the sediments under discussion has been studied. It has been shown that intense biological degradation occurs in both water and sediments. The degrees of conversion in experimental closed systems on minimal media are 46 and 24%, respectively. The most active of the organisms studied is a Micromironospora actinomycete. It degraded BEHP by 36% of its initial concentration. Spore-forming bacteria and microorganisms of the genus Pseudomonas were less active (17-23% and 7-11%).