title: Characterization of temperate Lactobacillus gasseri phage LgaI and its impact as prophage on autolysis of its lysogenic host strains.
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 degrees 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Elsayed A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neve
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geis
authors.forename: Knut J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Heller
mesh_terms: D001433:Bacteriolysis; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology*; D008242:Lysogeny; D039002:Prophages / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure