Comprehensive Scanning of Prophages in <i>Lactobacillus</i> : Distribution, Diversity, Antibiotic Resistance Genes, and Linkages with CRISPR-Cas Systems
Zhangming Pei, Faizan Ahmed Sadiq, Xiao Han, Jianxin Zhao, Hao Zhang, R. Paul Ross, Wenwei Lu, Wei Chen
Abstract
is essential for the safety evaluation and application development of probiotic candidates. We show that prophages are widely distributed among lactobacilli; however, intact prophages are more common in multihabitat species and display wide variations in genome feature, integration site, and genomic organization. Our data of the prophage-mediated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the resistance phenotype of lactobacilli provide evidence for deciphering the putative role of prophages as vectors of the ARGs. Furthermore, understanding the association between prophages and CRISPR-Cas systems is crucial to appreciate the coevolution of phages and