Bacteriophage Defense Systems and Strategies for Lactic Acid Bacteria

This chapter describes the complex relationship that exists between strains of S. thermophilus and their bacteriophages. In particular, this chapter highlights the various defense strategies and systems that have been developed to curb the propagation and evolution of lytic phages. Point mutation an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAdvances in Applied Microbiology Vol. 56; pp. 331 - 378
Main Authors Sturino, Joseph M., Klaenhammer, Todd R.
Format Book Chapter Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Science & Technology 01.01.2004
Academic Press
Subjects
Animals
Bacteriophages - genetics
Bacteriophages - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Biotechnology
Cattle
Dairying
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Lactococcus lactis - genetics
Lactococcus lactis - virology
Microbiology
Microbiology (non-medical)
Streptococcus Phages - genetics
Streptococcus Phages - physiology
Streptococcus thermophilus - genetics
Streptococcus thermophilus - virology
Virus
Lactic acid bacteria
Applied microbiology
Phage
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Summary:This chapter describes the complex relationship that exists between strains of S. thermophilus and their bacteriophages. In particular, this chapter highlights the various defense strategies and systems that have been developed to curb the propagation and evolution of lytic phages. Point mutation and recombination are the two great engines of phage evolution. Their short generation time and large burst sizes can act to accelerate the rate at which mutant phages may overcome a given defense. The plasticity of phage genomes is critical to their rapid evolution. Phages are a leading cause of failure in industrial fermentations. Further, as the demand for fermented food products made with strains of S. thermophilus has increased, so has the incidence and severity of phage attacks against these thermophilic starter strains. With the expansion of fermentation and bioprocessing systems reliant on lactic acid bacteria (LAB), disruption by bacteriophages remains a serious concern. Together, these persistent pressures necessitate the continued development of starter cultures with enhanced phage resistance properties.
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ISBN:9780120026586
0120026589
ISSN:0065-2164
DOI:10.1016/S0065-2164(04)56011-2