title: Sequence and comparative analysis of Leuconostoc dairy bacteriophages.
abstract: Bacteriophages attacking Leuconostoc species may significantly influence the quality of the final product. There is however limited knowledge of this group of phages in the literature. We have determined the complete genome sequences of nine Leuconostoc bacteriophages virulent to either Leuconostoc mesenteroides or Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides strains. The phages have dsDNA genomes with sizes ranging from 25.7 to 28.4 kb. Comparative genomics analysis helped classify the 9 phages into two classes, which correlates with the host species. High percentage of similarity within the classes on both nucleotide and protein levels was observed. Genome comparison also revealed very high conservation of the overall genomic organization between the classes. The genes were organized in functional modules responsible for replication, packaging, head and tail morphogenesis, cell lysis and regulation and modification, respectively. No lysogeny modules were detected. To our knowledge this report provides the first comparative genomic work done on Leuconostoc dairy phages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 30, DK-1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kot
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 København Ø, Denmark; Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej, 399, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Hermann-Weigmann-Straße 1, D-24103 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neve
authors.affiliation: Center for Systems Microbiology, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.affiliation: Center for Systems Microbiology, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.affiliation: Clerici-Sacco Group, Via Manzoni 29, I-22071 Cadorago, Italy.
authors.forename: Per D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 København Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Søren J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Hermann-Weigmann-Straße 1, D-24103 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Knut J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 30, DK-1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark. Electronic address: fkv@food.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Finn K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Vogensen
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D023281:Genomics; D007934:Leuconostoc / Q000821:virology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; D004247:DNA
keywords: Bacteriophages; Comparative genomics; Lactic acid bacteria; Leuconostoc