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. 1996 Feb;62(2):676–679. doi: 10.1128/aem.62.2.676-679.1996

The Lactococcal Plasmid pNP40 Encodes a Third Bacteriophage Resistance Mechanism, One Which Affects Phage DNA Penetration

P Garvey, C Hill, G F Fitzgerald
PMCID: PMC1388783  PMID: 16535245

Abstract

The lactococcal plasmid pNP40 mediates insensitivity to (phi)c2 by an early-acting phage resistance mechanism in addition to the previously identified abortive infection system, AbiF, in the Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis MG1614 background. A second abortive infection determinant on pNP40, AbiE, does not confer resistance to (phi)c2. The early-acting mechanism on pNP40 does not prevent phage adsorption nor does it appear to operate by restriction/modification. Phage DNA was not detected in pNP40-containing cells until 30 min following exposure to (phi)c2 compared with 5 min in a sensitive host; however, electroporation of phage DNA into resistant hosts resulted in the release of phage progeny from a dramatically elevated number of cells compared with conventionally infected hosts. It appears therefore that pNP40 encodes a novel phage resistance mechanism which blocks DNA penetration specifically for (phi)c2.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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