Plasmid-free LAB

25 Jun 2012

Lactobacillus plantarum is one of the most versatile species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are widely used in food fermentation processes, but also inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. So far, four L. plantarum genomes have been sequenced. A group of Norwegian and Dutch researchers, including NBIC Faculty member Sacha van Hijum and Roland Siezen, has added the genome of a fifth strain, L. plantarum NC8 (CCUG 61730). A remarkable feature of this strain is that it is naturally plasmid free, which distinguishes it from other L. plantarum strains. NC8 has been used as a model strain in the development of genetic tools, as well as in general fermentation and metabolic engineering studies.

Axelsson L, Rud I, Naterstad K, Blom H, Renckens B, Boekhorst J, Kleerebezem M, van Hijum S and Siezen RJ
Genome Sequence of the Naturally Plasmid-Free Lactobacillus plantarum Strain NC8 (CCUG 61730)
J. Bacteriol. 2012, Vol.194(9):2391-2392, doi:10.1128/JB.00141-12

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