Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis C2 Bacteriophage sk1 Receptor involving Rhamnose and Glucose Moieties in the Cell Wall

¹ Department of Microbiology, Nash 220, Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology, Western Center for Dairy Protein Research and Technology, Oregan State University, Corvallis 97331-3804

Adsorption of bacteriophage sk1 to Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis C2 was reduced 64, 26, 26, 5, and 8% by addition of rhamnose, glucose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and fucose, respectively, to the adsorption assay. Lectins that were specific for N-acetylglucoseamine and galactose did not prevent phage adsorption. However, three lectins specific for glucose, but different in size, reduced phage adsorption from 0 to 50%. Another lectin, which was specific for rhamnose, reduced phage adsorption 80%. Rhamnose, but not glucose, partially inhibited phage infection when added to a growing culture. The data suggest that a glucose moiety is near the adsorption site or is an important conformational determinant of it.

Key Words: Lactococcus • bacteriophage receptor • phage adsorption • cell wall

Submitted on October 13, 1992
Accepted on August 20, 1993