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Characterization of Temperate Lactobacillus gasseri Phage LgaI and Its Impact as Prophage on Autolysis of Its Lysogenic Host Strains

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Abstract

We show by electron microscopy that Lactobacillus gasseri phage LgaI, a temperate phage residing in the chromosome of Lactobacillus gasseri ATCC33323, belongs to the family of Myoviridae phages. The LgaI DNA is packed by the “head-full” mechanism, as demonstrated by analysis of restriction patterns of heated (74°C) or non-heated DNA. By isolating prophage-cured cells, we were able to demonstrate phage LgaI to be responsible for the strong autolytic phenotype observed for Lactobacillus gasseri ATCC33323. In addition, we show that a copy of the LgaI prophage resides in the chromosome of Lactobacillus gasseri NCK102. The LgaI prophage was not inducible in L. gasseri NCK102-adh by mitomycin C, however, it apparently contributed to the autolytic phenotype of this strain.

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Acknowledgements

E. A. I. gratefully acknowledges funding by the Egyptian Government (Long Term Mission). We thank B. Henrich (University of Kaiserslautern, Germany) for kindly providing L. gasseri strains NCK102 and NCK102-adh, and Bernd Fahrenholz for technical help in preparing phage samples for electron microscopy.

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  1. Elsayed A. Ismail

    Present address: Food Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture at Moshtohor, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh, Qaluibyia, Benha, Egypt

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Institute of Nutrition and Food, Hermann-Weigmann-Str. 1, P.O. Box 6069, Kiel, 24121, Germany

    Elsayed A. Ismail, Horst Neve, Arnold Geis & Knut J. Heller

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  1. Elsayed A. Ismail
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  2. Horst Neve
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Correspondence to Knut J. Heller.

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Ismail, E.A., Neve, H., Geis, A. et al. Characterization of Temperate Lactobacillus gasseri Phage LgaI and Its Impact as Prophage on Autolysis of Its Lysogenic Host Strains. Curr Microbiol 58, 648–653 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-009-9384-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-009-9384-0

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