Plasmid expression and maintenance during long-term starvation-survival of bacteria in well water.
Strains of enteric bacteria and pseudomonads containing plasmid R388::Tnl721 (Tpr, Tcr) or pRO101 (Hgr, Tcr) were starved for over 250 days in sterile well water to evaluate effects of starvation-survival on plasmid expression and maintenance. Viable populations dropped to between approximately 0.1 and 1% of the initial populations. Escherichia coli(pRO101) and Pseudomonas cepacia(pRO101) lost both viability and plasmid expression at a lower rate than strains containing R388::Tnl721. Three patterns of host-plasmid interaction were detected: (i) no apparent loss of plasmid expression, (ii) loss of plasmid expression on initial recovery with subsequent expression upon resuscitation, and (iii) loss of capability to produce functional plasmid resistance.
Caldwell
B A
BA
Department of Microbiology, College of Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331-3804.
Ye
C
C
Griffiths
R P
RP
Moyer
C L
CL
Morita
R Y
RY
D003470:Culture Media; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005618:Fresh Water; D010957:Plasmids; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
D003470:Culture Media