This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Other Versions of this Article: JB.00466-07v1 189/18/6645    most recent 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 Serra-Moreno, R. Articles by Muniesa, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Serra-Moreno, R. Articles by Muniesa, M.

Insertion Site Occupancy by stx₂ Bacteriophages Depends on the Locus Availability of the Host Strain Chromosome

University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Received 28 March 2007/ Accepted 10 July 2007

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an emergent pathogen characterized by the expression of Shiga toxins, which are encoded in the genomes of lambdoid phages. These phages are infectious for other members of the Enterobacteriaceae and establish lysogeny when they integrate into the host chromosome. Five insertion sites, used mainly by these prophages, have been described to date. In the present study, the insertion of stx₂ prophages in these sites was analyzed in 168 STEC strains isolated from cattle. Additionally, insertion sites were determined for stx₂ phages which (i) converted diverse laboratory host strains, (ii) coexisted with another stx₂ prophage, and (iii) infected a recombinant host strain lacking the most commonly used insertion site. Results show that depending on the host strain, phages preferentially use one insertion site. For the most part, yehV is occupied in STEC strains while wrbA is preferentially selected by the same stx phages in E. coli laboratory strains. If this primary insertion site is unavailable, then a secondary insertion site is selected. It can be concluded that insertion site occupancy by stx phages depends on the host strain and on the availability of the preferred locus in the host strain.

Published ahead of print on 20 July 2007.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Serra-Moreno, R., Jofre, J., Muniesa, M. (2008). The CI Repressors of Shiga Toxin-Converting Prophages Are Involved in Coinfection of Escherichia coli Strains, Which Causes a Down Regulation in the Production of Shiga Toxin 2. J. Bacteriol. 190: 4722-4735 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mellmann, A., Lu, S., Karch, H., Xu, J.-g., Harmsen, D., Schmidt, M. A., Bielaszewska, M. (2008). Recycling of Shiga Toxin 2 Genes in Sorbitol-Fermenting Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:NM. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 67-72 [Abstract] [Full Text]