Cloning of Bacteroides fragilis plasmid genes affecting metronidazole resistance and ultraviolet survival in Escherichia coli.
Since reduced metronidazole causes DNA damage, resistance to metronidazole was used as a selection method for the cloning of Bacteroides fragilis genes affecting DNA repair mechanisms in Escherichia coli. Genes from B. fragilis Bf-2 were cloned on a recombinant plasmid pMT100 which made E. coli AB1157 and uvrA, B, and C mutant strains more resistant to metronidazole, but more sensitive to far uv irradiation under aerobic conditions. The loci affecting metronidazole resistance and uv sensitivity were linked and located on a 5-kb DNA fragment which originated from the small 6-kb cryptic plasmid pBFC1 present in B. fragilis Bf-2 cells.
Department of Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.
G U
GU
Wehnert
V R
VR
Abratt
H J
HJ
Goodman
D R
DR
Woods
D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000528:radiation effects; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008795:Metronidazole