DISCOVERY OF CYANOPHAGE (A VIRUS THAT KILLS CYANOBACTERIA) AGAINST MICROCYSTIS AERUGINOSA FROM THE STAGNANT WATER OF THE RIVER GANGA
Abstract
Background: Microcystis aeruginosa is one of the highly noxious cyanobacteria that frequently form dense blooms in eutrophic freshwaters. Its toxic nature is responsible for the death of livestock and wildlife, and is also associated with serious problems in water management.
Aim: In this project our aim is to identify toxic cyanobacteria, i.e. Microcystis aeruginosa, from the stagnant water of the river Ganga, and also to discover lytic viruses (cyanophage) against them.
Materials and Methods: A surface water sample was collected from accumulated water near the river Ganga bank of the Mirzapur region during 15th January to 5th March 2025, having a cyanobacterial bloom. It was cultured in BG-11 medium by using a cycle consisting of 12 hours (h) of darkness and 12 h of light (ca. 40 mol photons m -2 s -1) provided by cool white fluorescent illumination at 30°C. Bioavailability assessment of micronutrients was performed for cultured cyanobacteria. These water samples was successively filtered through 0.8µm and 0.2µm polycarbonate membranes and then collect 100µl of the filtrate and it was inoculated into 900µl exponentially growing cyanobacterial culture strains. The cultures were incubated for a week. Growth inhibition was observed only in the culture inoculated with the filtrate. A clonal infectious agent was isolated from the lysed culture using three cycles of an extinction dilution procedure followed by plaque assay technology. 200µl of a fresh clonal cyanophage suspension was added to 800µl exponentially growing cultures of the hosts. The cultures were incubated as described above and monitored daily for host cell lysis using optical microscopy.
Results: Identified cyanobacteria were morphologically Microcystis aeruginosa. Induced viruses that kill cyanobacteria are considered cyanophages. Cyanophages lysed the cultures after 8thdays were considered to show the presence of cyanophage against M. aeruginosa in the water sample.
Conclusion: The Presence of Microcystis aeruginosa in Ganga River water is a serious threat to the water. The discovery of cyanobacterial lytic virus opens new hope for the removal of such blooms.
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