title: Mini-Tn7 vectors as genetic tools for single copy gene cloning in Acinetobacter baumannii.
abstract: Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging pathogen that causes serious infections with high mortality rates in immunocompromised individuals. Genetic manipulations in this medically-relevant pathogen are limited by the paucity of molecular tools. In this study, we show the application of the mini-Tn7-based single copy insertion system in A. baumannii. Mini-Tn7 elements are known to integrate at a naturally evolved, therefore presumably neutral location (intergenic region) downstream of the glmS gene (glucosamine-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase) in Gram-negative bacteria. We identified the site of insertion of mini-Tn7 in A. baumannii and demonstrated application of this useful cloning tool by inserting the gfp gene into the chromosome. Our work shows that mini-Tn7 elements are useful tools for genetic studies in this important pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Ayush.Kumar@uoit.ca
authors.forename: Ayush
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cortez-Cordova
authors.forename: Herbert P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schweizer
mesh_terms: D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements