IMR Press / FBL / Volume 14 / Issue 5 / DOI: 10.2741/3332

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Article

Bacteriophages of Lactobacillus

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1 Departement de biochimie et de microbiologie, Faculte des sciences et de genie, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada
2 Groupe de recherche en ecologie buccale, Faculte de medecine dentaire, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada
3 Felix d’Herelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2009, 14(5), 1661–1683; https://doi.org/10.2741/3332
Published: 1 January 2009
Abstract

In this review, we are listing Lactobacillus phages that have been reported in peer-reviewed articles published since 1960. Putative phages that are defective or have not been shown to be infectious, such as phage-like particles, are not discussed. Our literature searches led to the identification of 231 Lactobacillus phages, 186 of which have been observed by electron microscopy, with 109 belonging to the Siphoviridae family, 76 to the Myoviridae family, and 1 to the Podoviridae family. Model phages infecting Lb delbrueckii, casei, rhamnosus, plantarum, and gasseri are highlighted, as well as prophages of Lactobacillus hosts. To date, nine complete Lactobacillus phage genomes are available for comparisons and evolution studies. Features such as phage receptors and endolysins are also reviewed, as well as phage-derived genetic tools. Lactobacillus phage research has progressed significantly over the past decade but a thorough understanding of their biology is still lacking. Because of the risks they represent and the knowledge gaps that need to be filled, the outlook for research on Lactobacillus phages is bright.

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