0000000000886691
AUTHOR
Horst Neve
Lactococcal 949 group phages recognize a carbohydrate receptor on the host cell surface
ABSTRACT Lactococcal bacteriophages represent one of the leading causes of dairy fermentation failure and product inconsistencies. A new member of the lactococcal 949 phage group, named WRP3, was isolated from cheese whey from a Sicilian factory in 2011. The genome sequence of this phage was determined, and it constitutes the largest lactococcal phage genome currently known, at 130,008 bp. Detailed bioinformatic analysis of the genomic region encoding the presumed initiator complex and baseplate of WRP3 has aided in the functional assignment of several open reading frames (ORFs), particularly that for the receptor binding protein required for host recognition. Furthermore, we demonstrate th…
Isolation and Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes Phage vB_LmoH_P61, a Phage With Biocontrol Potential on Different Food Matrices
The high mortality rate associated with Listeria monocytogenes as well as its ability to adapt to the harsh conditions employed in food processing have ensured that this pathogen has become a significant concern in the ready-to-eat food industry. Lytic bacteriophages are viruses that hijack their bacterial host’s metabolic mechanisms as a means to grow and replicate, subsequently leading to host cell death due to lysis. With emerging concerns related to the increasing numbers of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, bacteriophages may act as a suitable biocontrol alternative. This study reports the biological and genomic characterisation of the broad host range Listeria monocytogenes phage vB_Lmo…