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Bacteriophages of lactobacillus
Manuela Villion1, Sylvain Moineau
1Departement de biochimie et de microbiologie, Faculte des sciences et de genie, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, G1V 0A6.
Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition)
|March 11, 2009
Summary
This review details 231 Lactobacillus phages identified since 1960, focusing on infectious strains. Research highlights key phage families, model organisms, and genomic data, underscoring the need for further Lactobacillus phage study.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Lactobacillus phages are critical for understanding bacterial genetics and host-pathogen interactions.
- Previous research has identified numerous Lactobacillus phages, but a comprehensive overview is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and catalog Lactobacillus phages reported in peer-reviewed literature since 1960.
- To highlight key findings on phage families, host specificity, and genomic information.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of peer-reviewed articles published from 1960 onwards.
- Inclusion criteria focused on infectious Lactobacillus phages, excluding defective or non-infectious particles.
- Data extraction on phage identification, morphology, host range, and genomic data.
Main Results:
- Identified 231 Lactobacillus phages, with 186 characterized by electron microscopy.
- Classified phages into Siphoviridae (109), Myoviridae (76), and Podoviridae (1) families.
- Highlighted model phages for Lb. delbrueckii, Lb. casei, Lb. rhamnosus, Lb. plantarum, and Lb. gasseri, along with available genomic data.
Conclusions:
- Lactobacillus phage research has advanced significantly, yet a complete understanding of their biology remains incomplete.
- Further research is essential due to the potential risks and existing knowledge gaps concerning these phages.
- The field holds significant promise for future discoveries and applications.
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