The ability of the plasmid-encoded restriction and modification system LlaBIII to protect Lactococcus lactis against bacteriophages.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential of the plasmid-encoded restriction and modification (R/M) system LlaBIII to protect Lactococcua lactis against bacteriophages during milk fermentations.


RESULTS
The R/M system LlaBIII on plasmid pJW566 was cloned with a chloramphenicol cassette, resulting in plasmid pJK1. When introduced into L. lactis strains, pJK1 conferred increased phage resistance against the three most common lactococcal phage species 936, c2, and P335 and three unclassified industrial phages. The growth of the strains in RSM was not affected by the presence of plasmid pJK1.


CONCLUSIONS
The plasmid-encoded R/M system LlaBIII has great ability to protect L. lactis strains against bacteriophages in milk fermentations.


CONCLUSIONS
This study evaluates the ability of the LlaBIII R/M system to function as a phage defence mechanism which is an essential step prior to considering utilizing it for improving starter cultures.
Kong
J
J
State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University. Shanda Southern Road 27, Jinan 250100, P. R. China.
Josephsen
J
J
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015280:DNA Restriction-Modification Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D013294:Lactococcus lactis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D010957:Plasmids
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015280:DNA Restriction-Modification Enzymes; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes