Plasmid transduction and site-specific systems derived from lactic acid bacteria phages

Abstract

Bacteriophages have always been central for the evolution of bacteria. In this chapter, the transductive capacities of phages to mediate the transfer of either chromosomal or plasmid DNA among strains of lactic acid bacteria, as well as the development of special-purpose genetic tools (i.e., site-specific integration and inducible gene expression systems) derived from either temperate or virulent bacteriophages and their successful exploitation in strain improvement will be presented. The contribution of bacteriophages to the evolution and shaping of lactic acid bacteria will be discussed.