Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2016, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (3): 417-423.doi: 10.11934/j.issn.1673-4831.2016.03.013

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Progress of Research on Genetic Diversity of Cyanophage Based on psbA Gene

LI Yue, LIU Ting-ting, LIU Li, XIA Xue-shan   

  1. Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
  • Received:2015-08-31 Online:2016-05-25 Published:2016-05-27

Abstract:

Cyanophages, as a kind of peculiar viruses that infect specifically cyanobacteria, exists extensively in various aquatic environments. In water bodies where water eutrophication is severe, cyanobacterial bloom outbreaks frequently. So scientists pay much attention to the study on cyanophages as a potential biological factor in controlling cyanobacteria. Currently studies on cyanophages are focused mainly on how to isolate and purify cyanophages and what its physiological and biochemical properties are. Little has been done on its genetic diversity because no universal genetic markers are available for the study. Using the photosynthesis psbA gene that encodes key photosystem II proteins (D1) of cyanophages as target, recent advances in researches on cyanophage genetic diversity in maritime and fresh water environments were reviewed and distribution and variation of cyanophages in various natural environments analyzed. Meanwhile, some tips for problems in and prospects of the researches in this field are also discussed.

Key words: cyanophage, psbA gene, genetic diversity

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