title: The plasmid complement of Lactococcus lactis UC509.9 encodes multiple bacteriophage resistance systems.
abstract: Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris strains are used globally for the production of fermented dairy products, particularly hard cheeses. Believed to be of plant origin, L. lactis strains that are used as starter cultures have undergone extensive adaptation to the dairy environment, partially through the acquisition of extrachromosomal DNA in the form of plasmids that specify technologically important phenotypic traits. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the eight plasmids of L. lactis UC509.9, an Irish dairy starter strain. Key industrial phenotypes were mapped, and genes that are typically associated with lactococcal plasmids were identified. Four distinct, plasmid-borne bacteriophage resistance systems were identified, including two abortive infection systems, AbiB and AbiD1, thereby supporting the observed phage resistance of L. lactis UC509.9. AbiB escape mutants were generated for phage sk1, which were found to carry mutations in orf6, which encodes the major capsid protein of this phage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ainsworth
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mahony
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland d.vansinderen@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Douwe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Sinderen
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019295:Computational Biology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D013294:Lactococcus lactis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial