A novel restriction-modification system is responsible for temperature-dependent phage resistance in Listeria monocytogenes ECII.

ABSTRACT: Listeria monocytogenes epidemic clone II (ECII) strains are unusual in being completely resistant to phage when grown at low temperatures (≤30°C). In the current study we constructed and characterized a mariner-based mutant (J46C) of the ECII strain H7550-Cd(S) that lacked temperature-dependent resistance to phage. The transposon was localized in LMOh7858_2753 (open reading frame [ORF] 2753), a member of a 12-ORF genomic island unique to ECII strains. ORF 2753 and ORF 2754 exhibited homologies to restriction endonucleases and methyltransferases associated with type II restriction-modification (RM) systems. In silico-based predictions of the recognition site for this putative RM system were supported by resistance of DNA from ECII strains to digestion by BfuI, a type II restriction enzyme s

SUBMITTER: Kim JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3298167 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature