Isolation and characterization of a Lactobacillus fermentum temperate bacteriophage from Chinese yogurt.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the properties of temperate bacteriophage of Lactobacillus fermentum, based on its morphology, restriction patterns, protein profile and the impact on the growth of host strain.


RESULTS
With Mitomycin C, seven temperate phages were induced from Lactobacilli derived from Chinese yogurt. The temperate phages induced belong to the most common Bradley's group B, having hexagonal head and long, noncontractile tail. They were furthermore confirmed to be the same bacteriophage by identical restriction patterns. SDS-PAGE profile showed that the phage studied had one major structure protein about 31.9 kDa. The presence of the prophage influenced the cell shape and colony size of its lysogenic strain.


CONCLUSIONS
The phage obtained had similar, but not complete identical properties with other L. fermentum phages reported. It influenced the growth behaviour of its lysogenic strain.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides some information about bacteriophages occurring in the Chinese yoghurt manufacture and contributes to our knowledge on the bacteriophage diversity in the dairy industry.
Zhang
X
X
State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Kong
J
J
Qu
Y
Y
D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002681:China; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005516:Food Microbiology; D016679:Genome, Viral; D052197:Limosilactobacillus fermentum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology*; D008242:Lysogeny; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D015014:Yogurt / Q000382:microbiology*
D004279:DNA, Viral