Genetic organization and functional analysis of a novel phage abortive infection system, AbiL, from Lactococcus lactis

Abstract

A plasmid-encoded phage abortive infection mechanism (AbiL) was identified from Lactococcus lactis biovar. diacetylactis LD10-1. AbiL conferred complete resistance to the small isometric-headed phage φ712 (936 species) and partial resistance to the prolate-headed phage φc2 (c2 species) when introduced into L. lactis LM0230. However, AbiL was not effective against the small isometric-headed phage ul36 (P335 species). The AbiL determinant was sequenced and it consists of two open reading frames, abiLi and abiLii. Their encoded proteins did not share significant homology with any known proteins in the protein databases. Transcriptional analysis indicated that abiLi and abiLii are organized as a single operon. Deletion within abiLii abolished the phage resistance. The levels of four φc2-specific transcripts, three within the early transcribed region and one within the late transcribed region, were examined by RT-PCR, no effect of AbiL on synthesis of these transcripts was detected, suggesting that AbiL may act at a point after the transcription of φc2 in L. lactis.