title: Transformation of colonial Escherichia coli on solid media.
abstract: We report that colonial Escherichia coli cells on various solid media can develop modest genetic competence. Using an on-filter culture system, we found that E. coli colonies on CaCl2-containing agar were transformed in the presence of plasmid DNA. Interestingly, transformation also occurred on LB-agar, various moist foods and even on H2O-agar. These results suggest that some populations of colonial E. coli in various environments could become transformable regardless of the surrounding Ca2+ concentration.
authors.affiliation: Food Safety Laboratory, Faculty of Human Life and Environment, Nara Women's University, Kitauoyanishi-machi, 630-8506, Japan. smaeda@cc.nara-wu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Sumio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawamura
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuda
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D018441:Biofilms; D002122:Calcium Chloride; D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D014675:Vegetables / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D000362:Agar; D002122:Calcium Chloride