Serotype F double- and triple-converting phage insertionally inactivate the Staphylococcus aureus β-toxin determinant by a common molecular mechanism |
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| Authors: | J.D. Carroll M.T. Cafferkey D.C. Coleman |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Microbiology, The Moyne Institute, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Clinical Microbiology, St. Jame's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; School of Dental Science, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland |
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| Abstract: | Abstract The precise molecular mechanism of Staphylococcus aureus β -toxin inactivation by the serotype F triple-converting phage φ42, φA1 and φA3 was investigated. Sequence analysis of the φ42 ( attP ) and Staphylococcus aureus ( attB ) attachment sites and the left ( attL ) and right ( attR ) chromosomal/bacteriophage DNA junctions of individual lysogens, each harbouring a triple-converting phage, revealed the presence of a common 14-bp core sequence in all four sites. These findings indicate that the genomes of the triple-converting phage integrate into the 5'-end of the β-toxin gene ( hlb ) by a site- and orientation-specific mechanism identical to that previously described for the serotype F double-converting phage φ13. |
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| Keywords: | Staphylococcus aureus β-Toxin Site-specific insertion Triple-lysogenic conversion Double-lysogenic conversion Bacteriophage |
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