For real-time PCR experiments total cDNA was obtained using the kit Quantitect RT (Qiagen GmbH, Hilden, Germany) from 500 ng of the same preparation of RNA described above. cDNA was then amplified in a Bio-Rad LightCycler using the DyNAmo HS Syber Green qPCR Kit (Finnzymes Oy, Espoo, Finland). Synthetic oligonucleotides (PRIMM) used for the amplification of a region at the 3 0 of the ORF SSO3060 were as follows: 5 0 -Real: 5 0 -TAAATGGC-GAAGCGATTTTC-3 0 ; 3 0 -Real: 5 0 -ATATGCCTTTGTCGC-GGATA-3 0 for the gene fucA1. 5 0 -GAATGGGGGTGATA-CTGTCG-3 0 and 5 0 -TTTACAGCCGGGACTACAGG-3 0 for the 16S rRNA gene.