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J. Bacteriol. doi:10.1128/JB.00466-07
Copyright (c) 2007, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Insertion site occupancy by stx₂-bacteriophages depends on the locus availability of the host strain chromosome

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: mmuniesa{at}ub.edu.

	Abstract

STEC are emergent pathogens characterized by the expression of shiga toxins, which are encoded in the genome of lambdoid phages. These phages are infectious for other Enterobacteriaceae and establish lysogeny when they integrate in the host chromosome. Five different insertion sites, mainly used by these prophages, have been described to date. In the present study, the insertion of stx₂-prophages in these sites was determined in 168 STEC strains isolated from cattle. Additionally, insertion sites were checked when stx₂-phages were: 1) converting diverse laboratory host strains; 2) coexisting with another stx₂-prophage; and 3) infecting a recombinant host strain lacking the most commonly used insertion site. Results show that depending on the host strain, phages use preferentially one insertion site. Mostly, 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 preferential locus in the host strain.

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