Argentinian Lactococcus lactis bacteriophages: genetic characterization and adsorption studies

SUAREZ, V.; MOINEAU, S.; REINHEIMER, J.; QUIBERONI, A.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY

Blackwell Science

Lugar: London, United Kingdom; Año: 2008 vol. 104 p. 371 - 379

1364-5072

Aims: Characterization of four virulent Lactococcus lactis phages (CHD, QF9, QF12 and QP4) isolated from whey samples obtained from Argentinean cheese plants. Methods and Results: Phages were characterized by means of electron microscopy, host range and DNA studies. The influence of Ca2+, physiological cell state, pH and temperature on cell adsorption was also investigated. The double-stranded DNA genomes of these lactococcal phages showed distinctive restriction patterns. Using a multiplex PCR, phage QP4 was classified as a member of the P335 polythetic species while the three others belong to the 936 group. Ca2+ was not needed for phage adsorption but indispensable to complete cell lysis by phage QF9. The lactococci phages adsorbed normally between pH 5 and pH 8, and from 0°C to 40°C, with the exception of phage QF12 which had an adsorption rate significantly lower at pH 8 and 0°C. Conclusions: Lactococcal phages from Argentina belong to the same predominant groups of phages found in other countries and they have the same general characteristics. Significance and Impact of the Study: This work is the first study to characterize Argentinean L. lactis bacteriophages.