Reconstructing viral genomes from the environment using fosmid clones: the case of haloviruses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Metaviriomes, the viral genomes present in an environment, have been studied by direct sequencing of the viral DNA or by cloning in small insert libraries. The short reads generated by both approaches make it very difficult to assemble and annotate such flexible genomic entities. Many environmental viruses belong to unknown groups or prey on uncultured and little known cellular lineages, and hence might not be present in databases.

Methodology and principal findings

Here we have used a different approach, the cloning of viral DNA into fosmids before sequencing, to obtain natural contigs that are close to the size of a viral genome. We have studied a relatively low diversity extreme environment: saturated NaCl brines, which simplifies the analysis and interpretatio

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Heredia I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3316494 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature