Application of the shsp gene, encoding a small heat shock protein, as a food-grade selection marker for lactic acid bacteria.

Plasmid pSt04 of Streptococcus thermophilus contains a gene encoding a protein with homology to small heat shock proteins (A. Geis, H. A.

Sequence analysis and characterization of plasmids from Streptococcus thermophilus.

The nucleotide sequences of eight plasmids isolated from seven Streptococcus thermophilus strains have been determined. Plasmids pSt04, pER1-1, and pJ34 are related and replicate via a rolling circle mechanism. Plasmid pJ34 encodes for a replication initiation protein (RepA) and a small polypeptide with unknown function.