The broad host range plasmid pLF1311 from Lactobacillus fermentum VKM1311

The complete nucleotide sequence (2389 bp) of the cryptic plasmid pLF1311 f rom Lactobacillus fermentum VKM1311 was determined. DNA sequence analysis r evealed the putative coding regions for a replicative protein (RepB), its r epressor (RepA) and double-stranded (dso) and single-stranded (sso) origins . pLF1311 belongs to the pE194 family of rolling circle-replicating plasmid s. A derivative of pLF1311 that contains the cat gene of plasmid pC194 of S taphylococcus aureus and the oriT of RP4 was constructed and transferred by conjugative mobilization from Escherichia coli to various Gram-positive ba cteria. The stable maintenance of this derivative was shown in some strains of Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Enterococcus and Bacillus under non-selecti ve conditions. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. P ublished by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.