Horizontal transfer of nonconjugative plasmids in a colony biofilm of Escherichia coli.
We tested the possibility of nonconjugative lateral DNA transfer in a colony biofilm of mixed Escherichia coli strains. By simply coculturing a plasmid-free F(-) strain and another F(-) strain harboring a nonconjugative plasmid in a colony biofilm on antibiotic-free agar media, transformed cells were produced within 24-48 h at the frequency of 10(-10)-10(-9) per recipient cell. PCR analysis of the transformed cells demonstrated the occurrence of lateral plasmid transfer. These cells survived until at least day 7 under antibiotic-free conditions. Liquid cultures of the same strains in Luria-Bertani broth produced no or few transformants, suggesting the importance of colony-biofilm formation for plasmid transfer. This is a novel line of evidence indicating that nonconjugative, nonviral horizontal gene transfer can occur between E. coli cells.
Maeda
Sumio
S
Faculty of Human Life and Environment, Nara Women's University, Kitauoya-nishi-machi, Nara, Japan. smaeda@cc.nara-wu.ac.jp
Ito
Miki
M
Ando
Tsuyako
T
Ishimoto
Yuko
Y
Fujisawa
Yukiko
Y
Takahashi
Hitomi
H
Matsuda
Akiko
A
Sawamura
Akiko
A
Kato
Shiho
S
D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*
D003470:Culture Media