Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2026

An Optimized Enrichment Technique for the Isolation of Arthrobacter Bacteriophage Species from Soil Sample Isolates
13:24

An Optimized Enrichment Technique for the Isolation of Arthrobacter Bacteriophage Species from Soil Sample Isolates

Published on: April 9, 2015

Induction and characterization of Pediococcus acidilactici temperate bacteriophage

Caldwell1, McMahon, Oberg

  • 1Western Dairy Center, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Utah State University, Logan 84322-8700, USA.

Systematic and Applied Microbiology
|May 4, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Three new bacteriophages (pa97, pa40, pa42) were induced from Pediococcus acidilactici. These Pediococcus bacteriophages belong to the Siphovirdae family and indicate at least two distinct species based on DNA homology.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Bacteriology

Background:

  • Pediococcus acidilactici are lactic acid bacteria used in food fermentation.
  • Temperate bacteriophages can influence bacterial populations and fermentation processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize novel temperate bacteriophages from Pediococcus acidilactici.
  • To determine the taxonomic relationship between newly isolated bacteriophages.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of bacteriophages using Mitomycin C.
  • Characterization by morphology (electron microscopy), DNA analysis (restriction digests, DNA-DNA hybridization), and protein profiling (SDS-PAGE).

Main Results:

  • Three bacteriophages (pa97, pa40, pa42) were isolated and characterized.
  • Morphology places them in the Siphovirdae family, group B1.
  • Genome size estimated at 33-37 kb, linear, non-cohesive ends.
  • Major proteins identified between 30-35 kDa; pa42 has an additional 47 kDa protein.
  • DNA-DNA hybridization indicates pa40 and pa42 are homologous, but distinct from pa97.

Conclusions:

  • Pediococcus acidilactici harbors at least two distinct bacteriophage species.
  • These findings contribute to the understanding of bacteriophage diversity in lactic acid bacteria.

More Related Videos

Bacteriophage Effectiveness for Biocontrol of Foodborne Pathogens Evaluated via High-Throughput Settings07:22

Bacteriophage Effectiveness for Biocontrol of Foodborne Pathogens Evaluated via High-Throughput Settings

Published on: August 19, 2021

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics09:23

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics

Published on: January 5, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the lytic replication...
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle01:16

Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle

The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. This process is primarily observed in temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), which infects Escherichia coli. The cycle allows the viral genome to persist across bacterial generations while keeping host cells viable.Integration of the Viral GenomeUpon infection, bacteriophage lambda attaches to the bacterial surface and injects its...
DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
Bacteriophages of the Human Virome01:23

Bacteriophages of the Human Virome

Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body. They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome. Indeed, phages represent the most abundant viral entities, with densities in the gut reaching up to 10⁹ particles per gram of fecal matter, and many belonging to orders such as Caudovirales and Microviridae, while a substantial proportion remains unclassified as viral “dark matter.”Lysogeny and Genetic ExchangeIn the gut, bacteriophages...