Involved in escape from killing mediated by the bacterial AbiQ protein upon infection of L.lactis subsp. lactis strain IL1403. 11 distinct mutations in the protein and 2 in the ribosome-binding site confer on the virus the ability to partially escape killing (i.e. the virus grows in the bacteria), in some cases probably by decreasing the protein level. At least one of these variants (Leu-38) has reduced fitness compared to the wild-type strain. Expressed early in the viral replication cycle (at protein level). Transcript is detected 2 minutes after infection, peaks at 10 minutes and is degraded to a smaller size by 20 minutes. Some smaller transcripts were detected in bacteria expressing AbiQ (AC Q9ZJ19). Variant P008-Q1, mutation of the ATG start codon to TTG encoding Leu (a less efficient start codon in the host L.lactis), confers partial resistance to bacterial AbiQ. A silent mutation in variant P008-Q5 of one Thr codon to another (ACA to ACC, ACC is half as frequent in the virus and thus probably less efficiently translated) also confers partial resistance to bacterial AbiQ. Cannot be generated, suggesting it is essential for virus function.