Virome of ancient wolf mummy (Canis lupus) as a potential source of virulent bacteriophages for phage therapy

Abstract

Aim. To investigate the potential for searching new virulent bacteriophages in the paleontological material extracted from the permafrost zone.Material and methods. The virome structure of the colon content of the wolf pup mummy (Canis lupus) from the late Pleistocene was evaluated by means of shotgun metagenomic sequencing.Results. The study demonstrated the predominance of Myoviridae tailed bacteriophages, including PhiKZ-like phages, in the structure of the virome.Conclusion. The results of the study indicate the possibility of using paleontological material preserved in the ancient Arctic permafrost as a resource for searching and isolating new virulent bacteriophages.