This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Grkovic, S. Articles by Mahanty, H. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Grkovic, S. Articles by Mahanty, H. K. Agricola Articles by Grkovic, S. Articles by Mahanty, H. K.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl. Environ. Microbiol., Dec 1995, 4160-4166, Vol 61, No. 12
Copyright © 1995, American Society for Microbiology

Characterization of Serratia entomophila Bacteriophages and the Phage-Resistant Mutant Strain BC4B

S Grkovic, M O'Callaghan and HK Mahanty
Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 4, New Zealand

Successful large-scale fermentations of the bacterium Serratia entomophila for use in biological control of the soil-dwelling insect Costelytra zealandica has required the development of a phage-resistant mutant, BC4B. We report our investigations into S. entomophila phages and the nature of the phage resistance mechanism of strain BC4B. The parental strain of BC4B, A1MO2, was found to contain two previously unidentified prophages, (phi)9A and (phi)9B, which were UV inducible and also released spontaneously in large numbers. BC4B was shown to be completely cured of (phi)9A. Single lysogens of (phi)9A and (phi)9B were not homoimmune to any other S. entomophila phages. However, on the basis of DNA-DNA homology, all S. entomophila phages except (phi)CW3 were shown to have significant regions of homology and also packaged their DNA via pac-like mechanisms. The failure of phage particles to adsorb was identified as the basis of phage resistance in BC4B. In addition, it was demonstrated that all known S. entomophila phages are naturally temperature sensitive.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Forde, A., Daly, C., Fitzgerald, G. F. (1999). Identification of Four Phage Resistance Plasmids from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris HO2. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 1540-1547 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• O'Connor, L., Tangney, M., Fitzgerald, G. F. (1999). Expression, Regulation, and Mode of Action of the AbiG Abortive Infection System of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris UC653. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 330-335 [Abstract] [Full Text]