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Ambros et al. Microbiome Res Rep 2023;2:34 Microbiome Research
DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2023.18
Reports

Original Article Open Access

Distribution, inducibility, and characteristics of
Latilactobacillus curvatus temperate phages

Conrad L. Ambros, Matthias A. Ehrmann

Chair of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Technical University Munich (TUM), Freising 85354, Germany.
Correspondence to: Matthias A. Ehrmann, Chair of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Technical University Munich (TUM),
Gregor-Mendel-Str. 4, Freising 85354, Germany. E-mail: matthias.ehrmann@tum.de

How to cite this article: Ambros CL, Ehrmann MA. Distribution, inducibility, and characteristics of Latilactobacillus curvatus
temperate phages. Microbiome Res Rep 2023;2:34. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/mrr.2023.18
Received: 21 Mar 2023 First Decision: 30 Jun 2023 Revised: 28 Jul 2023 Accepted: 21 Aug 2023 Published: 8 Sep 2023

Academic Editor: Jennifer Mahony Copy Editor: Pei-Yun Wang Production Editor: Pei-Yun Wang

Abstract
Aim: Temperate phages are known to heavily impact the growth of their host, be it in a positive way, e.g., when
beneficial genes are provided by the phage, or negatively when lysis occurs after prophage induction. This study
provides an in-depth look into the distribution and variety of prophages in Latilactobacillus curvatus (L. curvatus).
This species is found in a wide variety of ecological niches and is routinely used as a meat starter culture.

Methods: Fourty five L. curvatus genomes were screened for prophages. The intact predicted prophages and their
chromosomal integration loci were described. Six L. curvatus lysogens were analysed for phage-mediated lysis post
induction via UV light and/or mitomycin C. Their lysates were analysed for phage particles via viral DNA
sequencing and transmission electron microscopy.

Results: Two hundred and six prophage sequences of any completeness were detected within L. curvatus
genomes. The 50 as intact predicted prophages show high levels of genetic diversity on an intraspecies level with
conserved regions mostly in the replication and head/tail gene clusters. Twelve chromosomal loci, mostly tRNA
genes, were identified, where intact L. curvatus phages were integrated. The six analysed L. curvatus lysogens
showed strain-dependent lysis in various degrees after induction, yet only four of their lysates appeared to contain
fully assembled virions with the siphovirus morphotype.

Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that L. curvatus is a (pro)phage-susceptible species, harbouring multiple intact
prophages and remnant sequences thereof. This knowledge provides a basis to study phage-host interaction
influencing microbial communities in food fermentations.

Keywords: Latilactobacillus curvatus, temperate bacteriophages, prophages, induction, lysis

© The Author(s) 2023. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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