title: Model for the dynamics of colicin plasmids in continuous culture.
abstract: Bacteriocin plasmids may be useful in preventing plasmid instability because the bacteriocin they produce selectively kills otherwise identical bacterial cells lacking the plasmid. This capability may allow plasmid-bearing cells to persist despite the problems of growth-rate depression and segregational plasmid loss that often lead to displacement by plasmid-free cells. In order to determine the conditions under which bacteriocin plasmids can prevent instability, we have developed and analyzed a mathematical model for the growth of colicin plasmid-bearing E. coli in continuous culture. Model behavior compares successfully with experimental results of Adams et al. Dependence of the system dynamic behavior on key parameters has been elucidated and a simple parameter criterion for prevention of plasmid instability has been derived. The possibility of instability prevention was found to be extremely sensitive to dilution rate.
mesh_terms: D003086:Bacteriocin Plasmids; D003087:Colicins / Q000032:analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D008433:Mathematics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010957:Plasmids
chemical_list: D003087:Colicins