Phage Particles in Ground Arctic Ice

This is the first report on investigation of bacteriophages in ancient Arctic ground ice of various genesis and geological age. Electron microscopy revealed phage particles in all ice samples. Tailed bacteriophages were the dominant morphotype. A correlation was found between abundances of intact microbial cells and phage particles. Direct microscopic counts revealed the highest phage abundance melted native samples of ice wedge. Dependence of occurrence and abundance of phage particles on genesis of ground ice was observed. The phages, as an integral component of microbial communities, were found to be preserved in extreme low-temperature conditions of ground ancient ice.