title: A mathematical method for analysing plasmid stability in micro-organisms.
abstract: A mathematical model describing the instability of plasmids in micro-organisms has been developed. The model is based on the assumption that the overall causes of plasmid instability are described by the segregational instability of the plasmid, R (i.e. the rate at which plasmid-free cells are generated from plasmid-bearing cells), and the growth rate difference, d mu (i.e. the difference in growth rate between plasmid-free and plasmid-bearing cells). A method for determining the values of R and d mu (accompanied by 95% confidence limits) for any plasmid-bearing micro-organism is described. This method is based on the observation that, depending on the plasmid, various exponential patterns of plasmid instability are observed. The stability of Escherichia coli 1B373(pMG169), where d mu much greater than R, and E. coli RV308(pHSG415), where R much greater than d mu, are analysed in order to demonstrate the method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Atmospheric Physics, The University, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Caulcott
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D010957:Plasmids; D013223:Statistics as Topic