BACKGROUND. Lactococcus garvieae, one of the most important pathogens in the aquaculture sector, has been recently recognized as an opportunistic human pathogen. However, little is known about the factors controlling of its growth. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this project is to isolate and characterize temperate and virulent phages of L. garvieae. METHODS: Forty-five L. garvieae strains isolated from various ecological niches were tested for the presence of inducible prophages. Virulent phages were also isolated from different environments. Morphological and genomic characteristics of the new phages were studied through transmission electronic microscope (TEM), DNA restriction profile, protein profile, host range, and in few cases, genomic sequences. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty temperate phages belonging to the Siphoviridae family and five new virulent phages able to infect L. garvieae strains have been isolated and partially characterized. Temperate phages, integrated into the genome of the host cell, promoted genome plasticity and appeared to be involved in gene mobilization. Virulent and strain–specific phages may be useful as alternatives to antibiotics to treat L. garvieae infections.
Lactococcus garvieae’s viruses: an insight into temperate and lytic bacteriophages / G. Eraclio, D. Tremblay, S. Moineau, G. Ricci, M.G. Fortina. ((Intervento presentato al 6. convegno Congress of European Microbiologists (FEMS) tenutosi a Maastricht nel 2015.
Lactococcus garvieae’s viruses: an insight into temperate and lytic bacteriophages
G. EraclioPrimo
;M.G. Fortina
2015
Abstract
BACKGROUND. Lactococcus garvieae, one of the most important pathogens in the aquaculture sector, has been recently recognized as an opportunistic human pathogen. However, little is known about the factors controlling of its growth. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this project is to isolate and characterize temperate and virulent phages of L. garvieae. METHODS: Forty-five L. garvieae strains isolated from various ecological niches were tested for the presence of inducible prophages. Virulent phages were also isolated from different environments. Morphological and genomic characteristics of the new phages were studied through transmission electronic microscope (TEM), DNA restriction profile, protein profile, host range, and in few cases, genomic sequences. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty temperate phages belonging to the Siphoviridae family and five new virulent phages able to infect L. garvieae strains have been isolated and partially characterized. Temperate phages, integrated into the genome of the host cell, promoted genome plasticity and appeared to be involved in gene mobilization. Virulent and strain–specific phages may be useful as alternatives to antibiotics to treat L. garvieae infections.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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