Open AccessPlasmid‐directed mechanisms for bacteriophage defense in lactic streptococci
Author(s) -
Klaenhammer Todd R.
Publication year - 1987
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 - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1987.tb02468.x
Subject(s) - lytic cycle , plasmid , bacteriophage , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , lysogenic cycle , genetics , virus , dna , gene , escherichia coli
Genetic studies with lactic streptococci have identified a variety of plasmids coding for systems that interfere with phage adsorption, direct restriction and modification activities, and disrupt various stages in the phage lytic cycle. This review describes mechanisms of phage defense that are plasmid‐directed in lactic streptococci, examines the physical and genetic properties of the plasmids involved, and discusses genetic strategies for construction of phage‐insensitive starter cultures for dairy fermentations.