title: High rates of conjugation in bacterial biofilms as determined by quantitative in situ analysis.
abstract: Quantitative in situ determination of conjugative gene transfer in defined bacterial biofilms using automated confocal laser scanning microscopy followed by three-dimensional analysis of cellular biovolumes revealed conjugation rates 1,000-fold higher than those determined by classical plating techniques. Conjugation events were not affected by nutrient concentration alone but were influenced by time and biofilm structure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Water Quality Control and Waste Management, Technical University of Munich, D-85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hausner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wuertz
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D018441:Biofilms; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins