Molecular ecology and evolution of Streptococcus thermophilus Bacteriophages - a review.

Brüssow, Harald; Bruttin, Anne; Desiere, Frank; Lucchini, Sacha; Foley, Sophie

Abstract

Bacteriophages attacking Streptococcus thermophilus, a lactic acid bacterium used in milk
fermentation, are a threat to the dairy industry. These small isometric-headed phages possess double-stranded
DNA genomes of 31 to 45 kb. Yoghurt-derived phages exhibit a limited degree of variability, as de®ned by
restriction pattern and host range, while a large diversity of phage types have been isolated from cheese factories.
Despite this diversity all S. thermophilus phages, virulent and temperate, belong to a single DNA homology group.
Several mechanisms appear to create genetic variability in this phage group. Site-speci®c deletions, one type
possibly mediated by a viral recombinase/integrase, which transformed a temperate into a virulent phage, were
observed. Recombination as a result of superinfection of a lysogenic host has been reported. Comparative DNA
sequencing identi®ed up to 10% sequence diversity due to point mutations. Genome sequencing of the prototype
temperate phage fS®21 revealed many predicted proteins which showed homology with phages from Lactococcus
lactis suggesting horizontal gene transfer. Homology with phages from evolutionary unrelated bacteria like E. coli
(e.g. lambdoid phage 434 and P1) and Mycobacterium fL5 was also found. Due to their industrial importance, the
existence of large phage collections, and the whole phage genome sequencing projects which are currently
underway, the S. thermophilus phages may present an interesting experimental system to study bacteriophage
evolution.

Citation

Brüssow, H., Bruttin, A., Desiere, F., Lucchini, S., & Foley, S. (1998). Molecular ecology and evolution of Streptococcus thermophilus Bacteriophages - a review. Virus Genes, 16, 95-109. https://doi.org/10.1023/A%3A1007957911848

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 1998
• Deposit Date: May 3, 2016
• Journal: Virus Genes
• Print ISSN: 0920-8569
• Electronic ISSN: 1572-994X
• Publisher: BMC
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Pages: 95-109
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A%3A1007957911848
• Keywords: Streptococcus thermophiles; phage evolution; deletions; point mutations; horizontal gene transfer
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/9930
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1007957911848