Comparative Genomics and Transcriptional Analysis of Prophages Identified in the Genomes of Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus salivarius, and Lactobacillus casei

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2006-05, Vol.72 (5), p.3130-3146
• Main Authors: Ventura, Marco, Canchaya, Carlos, Bernini, Valentina, Altermann, Eric, Barrangou, Rodolphe, McGrath, Stephen, Claesson, Marcus J, Li, Yin, Leahy, Sinead, Walker, Carey D, Zink, Ralf, Neviani, Erasmo, Steele, Jim, Broadbent, Jeff, Klaenhammer, Todd R, Fitzgerald, Gerald F, O'Toole, Paul W, van Sinderen, Douwe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria; bacteriophages; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; cheese starters; DNA; Evolutionary and Genomic Microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genes; genetic recombination; Genetics; Genome, Bacterial; Genome, Viral; Genomics; Humans; Hybridization; intestinal microorganisms; Lactobacillus - genetics; Lactobacillus - virology; Lactobacillus casei; Lactobacillus casei - virology; Lactobacillus gasseri; Lactobacillus salivarius; Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salivarius; messenger RNA; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; nucleotide sequences; Phylogeny; prophage integration sites; prophage sequences; prophages; Prophages - classification; Prophages - genetics; Prophages - isolation & purification; Prophages - metabolism; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Siphoviridae; Siphoviridae - classification; Siphoviridae - genetics; Siphoviridae - isolation & purification; Siphoviridae - metabolism; transcription (genetics); Transcription, Genetic; Viral Proteins - genetics; Viral Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/AEM.72.5.3130-3146.2006

Lactobacillus gasseri ATCC 33323, Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salivarius UCC 118, and Lactobacillus casei ATCC 334 contain one (LgaI), four (Sal1, Sal2, Sal3, Sal4), and one (Lca1) distinguishable prophage sequences, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed that LgaI, Lca1, Sal1, and Sal2 prophages belong to the group of Sfi11-like pac site and cos site Siphoviridae, respectively. Phylogenetic investigation of these newly described prophage sequences revealed that they have not followed an evolutionary development similar to that of their bacterial hosts and that they show a high degree of diversity, even within a species. The attachment sites were determined for all these prophage elements; LgaI as well as Sal1 integrates in tRNA genes, while prophage Sal2 integrates in a predicted arginino-succinate lyase-encoding gene. In contrast, Lca1 and the Sal3 and Sal4 prophage remnants are integrated in noncoding regions in the L. casei ATCC 334 and L. salivarius UCC 118 genomes. Northern analysis showed that large parts of the prophage genomes are transcriptionally silent and that transcription is limited to genome segments located near the attachment site. Finally, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis followed by Southern blot hybridization with specific prophage probes indicates that these prophage sequences are narrowly distributed within lactobacilli.