title: Biodiversity of Lactobacillus helveticus bacteriophages isolated from cheese whey starters.
abstract: Twenty-one Lactobacillus helveticus bacteriophages, 18 isolated from different cheese whey starters and three from CNRZ collection, were phenotypically and genetically characterised. A biodiversity between phages was evidenced both by host range and molecular (RAPD-PCR) typing. A more detailed characterisation of six phages showed similar structural protein profiles and a relevant genetic biodiversity, as shown by restriction enzyme analysis of total DNA. Latent period, burst time and burst size data evidenced that phages were active and virulent. Overall, data highlighted the biodiversity of Lb. helveticus phages isolated from cheese whey starters, which were confirmed to be one of the most common phage contamination source in dairy factories. More research is required to further unravel the ecological role of Lb. helveticus phages and to evaluate their impact on the dairy fermentation processes where whey starter cultures are used.
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria,Centro di Ricerca per le Produzioni Foraggere e Lattiero-Casearie (CRA-FLC),26900 Lodi,Italy.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zago
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria,Centro di Ricerca per le Produzioni Foraggere e Lattiero-Casearie (CRA-FLC),26900 Lodi,Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonvini
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria,Centro di Ricerca per le Produzioni Foraggere e Lattiero-Casearie (CRA-FLC),26900 Lodi,Italy.
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossetti
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria,Centro di Ricerca per le Produzioni Foraggere e Lattiero-Casearie (CRA-FLC),26900 Lodi,Italy.
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meucci
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria,Centro di Ricerca per le Produzioni Foraggere e Lattiero-Casearie (CRA-FLC),26900 Lodi,Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giraffa
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria,Centro di Ricerca per le Produzioni Foraggere e Lattiero-Casearie (CRA-FLC),26900 Lodi,Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carminati
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002611:Cheese / Q000382:microbiology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D014644:Genetic Variation; D058507:Host Specificity; D052198:Lactobacillus helveticus / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D000067796:Whey / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: cheese whey