Open AccessDetection of bacteriophage VSH‐1 svp38 gene in Brachyspira spirochetes 1
Author(s) -
Stanton Thad B.,
Thompson M.Greg,
Humphrey Samuel B.,
Zuerner Richard L.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00438-5
Subject(s) - bacteriophage , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , virology , gene , genetics , escherichia coli
VSH‐1 is a mitomycin C‐inducible, non‐lytic, phage‐like agent that packages random 7.5‐kb fragments of the Brachyspira hyodysenteriae genome. VSH‐1 is the first recognized mechanism for gene transfer between B. hyodysenteriae cells. To analyze the distribution of VSH‐1 among spirochetes, a 344‐bp probe for gene svp38 , encoding the VSH‐1 major head protein, was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and used in Southern blot hybridizations with genomic DNA from various spirochete genera. The svp38 probe hybridized to a 40‐kb Sal I– Sma I fragment of the B. hyodysenteriae B78 T chromosome, indicating VSH‐1 DNA insertion into the chromosome at a unique site. Restriction endonuclease digested DNAs of 27 spirochete strains representing six Brachyspira species ( B. hyodysenteriae , B. innocens , B. pilosicoli , B. murdochii , B. intermedia , B. alvinipulli ) contained a single fragment hybridizing with the svp38 probe. DNAs from spirochete species of the genera Treponema , Spirochaeta , Borrelia , and Leptospira did not hybridize with the probe. VSH‐1‐like agents appear to be widely distributed among Brachyspira species and, as has been demonstrated for B. hyodysenteriae , may serve as useful gene transfer agents for those other species.