Transmission electron microscope analysis of virus-like particles in the freshwater lakes of Signy Island, Antarctica

Water samples from a range of fresh-water Antarctic lakes on Signy Island (South Orkney Islands: 60°45′S, 45 °38′W) were examined for the presence of virus-like particles (VLPs) during the 1998/1999 field season. It was discovered that VLPs were ubiquitous, morphologically diverse and abundant, with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Biology
Main Authors: Wilson, William H., Lane, Daniel, Pearce, David A., Ellis-Evans, J. Cynan
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Springer 2000
Subjects:
Antarctic
South Orkney Islands
Signy Island
Antarc*
Antarctica
Polar Biology
Online Access:http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/502608/
https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000000152
Description
Summary:Water samples from a range of fresh-water Antarctic lakes on Signy Island (South Orkney Islands: 60°45′S, 45 °38′W) were examined for the presence of virus-like particles (VLPs) during the 1998/1999 field season. It was discovered that VLPs were ubiquitous, morphologically diverse and abundant, with high concentrations ranging from 4.9 × 106 ml−1 to 3.1 × 107 ml−1. Likely hosts include bacteria, cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae. In addition, an unusually large virus morphotype was observed with a head diameter 370 × 330 nm and a tail 1.3 μm long.

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