Construction of integrating derivatives of pHV60 for use in Lactobacillus plantarum

Lactobacillus plantarum plays an important role in a wide range of food and agricultural fermentations worldwide. In recent years, there has been substantial interest in the development of genetically manipulated strains of Lb. plantarum, which possess improved characteristics for use in these fermentations. If these genetically manipulated strains are to be approved for extensive commercial use, permission to use them is more likely to be granted if the recombinant genetic characteristics are introduced into the host chromosome. This paper describes the behaviour of plasmid pHV60 in Lactobacillus plantarum NCDOl193, and demonstrates that it can act as convenient small integrative vector in the organism.We are grateful to the Agricultural and Food Research Council for a studentship award to A.W.D., and the Commission for the European Communities for the award of a fellowship to J.L.R.B. We would also like to thank G. Venema for the gift of plasmid pHV60Peer reviewe