Identification and characterization of lactococcal-prophage-carried superinfection exclusion genes.
Superinfection exclusion (Sie) proteins are prophage-encoded phage resistance systems. In this study, genes encoding Sie systems were identified on the genomes of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MG1363 and L. lactis subsp. lactis IL1403. These Sie systems are genetically distinct and yet were shown to act specifically against a particular subset of the 936 phage group. Each of the systems allows normal phage adsorption while affecting plasmid transduction and intracellular phage DNA replication, which points to the blocking of phage DNA injection as their common mode of action. Sie-specifying genes found on the MG1363 prophages are also present in various lactococcal strains, whereas the prophage-encoded Sie systems of IL1403 do not appear to be as widely disseminated.
Mahony
Jennifer
J
Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork, Ireland.
McGrath
Stephen
S
Fitzgerald
Gerald F
GF
van Sinderen
Douwe
D
D001433:Bacteriolysis; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D013294:Lactococcus lactis / Q000821:virology*; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D053585:Virus Attachment; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins