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.
Department of Microbiology, College of Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331-3804.
B A
BA
Caldwell
C
C
Ye
R P
RP
Griffiths
C L
CL
Moyer
R Y
RY
Morita
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