Broth Mating Research Articles

Possible connection between a widely disseminated conjugative gentamicin resistance (pMG1-like) plasmid and the emergence of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium.

A total of 640 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) isolates, which were obtained between 1994 and 1999 from the Medical School Hospital of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, were used in this study. Of the 640 strains, 611 and 29 were VanA and VanB VRE, respectively, based on PCR analysis. Four hundred ninety-two (77%) of the strains exhibited resistance to concentrations of gentamicin from 64 micro g/ml (MIC) to more than 1,024 micro g/ml (MIC). The gentamicin resistance of each of 261 (53%) of the 492 gentamicin-resistant strains was transferred to E. faecium at a frequency of about 10(-5) to 10(-6) per donor cell in broth mating. More than 90% of vancomycin resistances of the 261 strains cotransferred with the gentamicin resistances to E. faecium strains by filter mating. The conjugative gentamicin resistance plasmids were identified and were classified into five types (A through E) with respect to their EcoRI restriction profiles. The transfer frequencies of each type of plasmid between E. faecium strains or Enterococcus faecalis strains were around 10(-3) to 10(-5) per donor cell or around 10(-6) to 10(-7) per donor cell, respectively, in broth mating. Type A and type B were the most frequently isolated, at an isolation frequency of about 40% per VRE isolate harboring the gentamicin resistance conjugative plasmid. The plasmids did not show any homology in Southern hybridization with the pheromone-responsive plasmids and broad-host-range plasmids pAMbeta1 and pIP501. The EcoRI or NdeI restriction fragments of each type of plasmids hybridized to the conjugative gentamicin resistance plasmid pMG1 (65.1 kb), which was originally isolated from an E. faecium clinical isolate, and transfer efficiently in broth mating.

새로운 conjugation 방법을 응용한 R plasmid 함유 어병세균의 분리와 양식장 내성균의 현황 분석

R plasmid의 분포와 새로운 conjugation 방법 개발을 위하여, 한국의 남해안과 동해안의 양식현장의 어류질병관련 세균으로부터 항균제 다제 내성균을 분리하였다. 분리균 134종에서 10균주가 chlorarnphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, ampicillin, colistin, nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, kanamycin 등에 대한 다제내성의 특성을 가지고 있었으며 이중 V. damsela JE1 한 균주는 chloram-phenicol과 tetracycline에 대한 내성전달 특성을 갖는 R plasmid 와 ampicillin과 kanamycin에 대한 유전자를 chromosome 등에 함유하고 있었다. 분리된 어병세균의 다제내성 특성이 R plasmid에 기인하는 것인지의 확인은 다양한 장내세균의 선택배지로 최근 개발된 CC 배지에서 각기 다른 균주들이 나타내는 증식여부 또는 집락 색깔의 차이를 이용하여 donor, recipient 그리고 transconjugant를 구별할 수 있는 방법을 적용하였다. Conjugation의 최적화를 위해 여러 가지 조건을 비교한 결과, V. damsela JE1의 R plasmid의 전달은 filter mating법을 사용하는 것이 broth mating법보다 약 100배 이상의 높은 성공률을 보여 주었으며 이때 사용온도는 30<TEX>$^{\circ}C$</TEX> 이상, mating 시간은 24시간에서 가장 높은 전달 빈도를 나타내었다. R plasmid를 함유한 V. damsela JE1이 분리된 4개월 후, 동일 양식장의 동일 그룹의 넙치 장내세균에서 분리한 다제내성균 Sphingomonas sp. 3균주는 V. damsela JE1에서 분리된 것과 같은 크기의 R plasmid를 함유하고 있었으며, 그 특성 또한 V. damsela JE1의 R plasmid와 마찬가지로 다제 내성 중 Cm과 Tc에 대한 유전자만이 recipient로 전달되어 장내 세균총이 R plasmid의 reservoir로서의 역할을 하고 있음을 확인하였다. To develop a new method of conjugation and to determine the distribution of R plasimds, we isolated multi-drug resistant strains from fish pathogenic bacteria in the farms of south and east seacoasts of Korea. Out of the 134 isolates examined, 10 showed resistance to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, ampicillin, colistin, nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid and kanamycin. One out of 10 multi-drug resistance bacteria, Vibfio damsela JE1 (V. damsela JE1), contained transferable R plasmid of chlorarnphenicol- tetracycline resistance genes and other nucleic acids encoding ampicillin and kanamycin resistance. The presence of the R plasmid was confirmed by conjugation using the chromocult medium (CC) as a selective and differential medium for transconiugants with identification based on the growth or colors of the colonies. The frequency of R plasmid transfer with filter mating method was come out much higher than that of broth mating method and appeared to be dependent upon the mating time and temperature. The optimum conditions for filter mating method were found to be 30<TEX>$^{\circ}C$</TEX> and 24hrs as mating temperature and period, respectively, Moreover, donor cells with R plasmid, both isolate and standard bacteria, were shown to have an ability to transfer the plasmid against Escherichia coli K-12 HB101 (E. coli HB101) and Edwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) RE14 at fairly high frequencies, finally, we isolated 3 isolates of Sphingomonas sp., carrying R plasmid from 12 multi-drug resistant bacteria in normal microflora of the flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) group used for the isolation of V emsela JE1 four months before. The same size and gene transfer chayateristics of R plasimds with those of V damsela JE1 confirmed that normal microflora have the reservoir activity for R plasmid in natural aquatic environment.

Transfer and expression of a hydrocarbon-degrading plasmid pHCL from Pseudomonas putida to marine bacteria

Transfer of a catabolic plasmid from Pseudomonas putida to indigenous marine bacteria and obligate halophilic bacteria was carried out under both in vitro and in situ conditions. The marine recipients, which could not otherwise grow on hydrocarbon substrates, were able to degrade them after the horizontal transfer of the catabolic plasmid from P. putida. Mating conducted on nutrient plates yielded comparatively more transconjugants than in broth mating under laboratory conditions (106 c.f.u./ml). The transconjugants stably maintained the plasmid when they were maintained in seawater amended with selective pressure (antibiotics/Hg (25 μg/μl) even after 30 days, whereas under non-selective conditions they progressively lost the plasmid after 24 days. The expression of the plasmid in the marine recipients was investigated by gas chromatographic analysis. The overall objective of this study is to evolve a novel strategy for bioremediation of oil spills and the results of the present study suggest that the present approach would offer a better solution for the removal of harmful substances from the environment by avoiding serious interference with the microbial flora of the ecosystem.

Characterization of dihydrofolate reductase genes from trimethoprim-susceptible and trimethoprim-resistant strains of Enterococcus faecalis.

Enterococci are usually susceptible in vitro to trimethoprim; however, high-level resistance (HLR) (MICs, >1,024 microg/ml) has been reported. We studied Enterococcus faecalis DEL, for which the trimethoprim MIC was >1,024 microg/ml. No transfer of resistance was achieved by broth or filter matings. Two different genes that conferred trimethoprim resistance when they were cloned in Escherichia coli (MICs, 128 and >1,024 microg/ml) were studied. One gene that coded for a polypeptide of 165 amino acids (MIC, 128 microg/ml for E. coli) was identical to dfr homologs that we cloned from a trimethoprim-susceptible E. faecalis strain, and it is presumed to be the intrinsic E. faecalis dfr gene (which causes resistance in E. coli when cloned in multiple copies); this gene was designated dfrE. The nucleotide sequence 5' to this dfr gene showed similarity to thymidylate synthetase genes, suggesting that the dfr and thy genes from E. faecalis are located in tandem. The E. faecalis gene that conferred HLR to trimethoprim in E. coli, designated dfrF, codes for a predicted polypeptide of 165 amino acids with 38 to 64% similarity with other dihydrofolate reductases from gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. The nucleotide sequence 5' to dfrF did not show similarity to the thy sequences. A DNA probe for dfrF hybridized under high-stringency conditions only to colony lysates of enterococci for which the trimethoprim MIC was >1,024 microg/ml; there was no hybridization to plasmid DNA from the strain of origin. To confirm that this gene causes trimethoprim resistance in enterococci, we cloned it into the integrative vector pAT113 and electroporated it into RH110 (E. faecalis OG1RF::Tn916DeltaEm) (trimethoprim MIC, 0.5 microg/ml), which resulted in RH110 derivatives for which the trimethoprim MIC was >1, 024 microg/ml. These results indicate that dfrF is an acquired but probably chromosomally located gene which is responsible for in vitro HLR to trimethoprim in E. faecalis.

Efficient transfer of the pheromone-independent Enterococcus faecium plasmid pMG1 (Gmr) (65.1 kilobases) to Enterococcus strains during broth mating.

Plasmid pMG1 (65.1 kb) was isolated from a gentamicin-resistant Enterococcus faecium clinical isolate and was found to encode gentamicin resistance. EcoRI restriction of pMG1 produced five fragments, A through E, with molecular sizes of 50.2, 11.5, 2.0, 0.7, and 0.7 kb, respectively. The clockwise order of the fragments was ACDEB. pMG1 transferred at high frequency to Enterococcus strains in broth mating. pMG1 transferred between Enterococcus faecalis strains, between E. faecium strains, and between E. faecium and E. faecalis strains at a frequency of approximately 10(-4) per donor cell after 3 h of mating. The pMG1 transfers were not induced by the exposure of the donor cell to culture filtrates of plasmid-free E. faecalis FA2-2 or an E. faecium strain. Mating aggregates were not observed by the naked eye during broth mating. Small mating aggregates of several cells in the broth matings were observed by microscopy, while no aggregates of donor cells which had been exposed to a culture filtrate of E. faecalis FA2-2 or an E. faecium strain were observed, even by microscopy. pMG1 DNA did not show any homology in Southern hybridization with that of the pheromone-responsive plasmids and broad-host-range plasmids pAMbeta1 and pIP501. These results indicate that there is another efficient transfer system in the conjugative plasmids of Enterococcus and that this system is different from the pheromone-induced transfer system of E. faecalis plasmids.

Evidence of nosocomial infection in Japan caused by high-level gentamicin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and identification of the pheromone-responsive conjugative plasmid encoding gentamicin resistance.

A total of 1,799 Enterococcus faecalis isolates were isolated from inpatients of Gunma University Hospital, Gunma, Japan, between 1992 and 1996. Four hundred thirty-two (22.3%) of the 1,799 isolates had high-level gentamicin resistance. Eighty-one of the 432 isolates were classified and were placed into four groups (group A through group D) with respect to the EcoRI restriction endonuclease profiles of the plasmid DNAs isolated from these strains. The 81 isolates were isolated from 36 patients. For 35 of the 36 patients, the same gentamicin-resistant isolates were isolated from the same or different specimens isolated from the same patient at different times during the hospitalization. For one other patient, two different groups of the isolates were isolated from the same specimen. Groups A, B, C, and D were isolated from 5, 14, 12, and 6 patients, respectively. The strains had multiple-drug resistance. The restriction endonuclease digestion patterns of the E. faecalis chromosomal DNAs isolated from isolates in the same group were also identical. The patients who had been infected with the gentamicin-resistant isolates from each group were geographically clustered on a ward(s). These results suggest that the isolates in each group were derived from a common source and had spread in the ward. The gentamicin-resistant isolates exhibited a clumping response upon exposure to pheromone (E. faecalis FA2-2 culture filtrate). The gentamicin resistance transferred at a high frequency to the recipient E. faecalis isolates by broth mating, and the pheromone-responsive plasmids encoding the gentamicin resistance were identified in these isolates.

Enteropathogenic bacteria in the La Paz River of Bolivia.

Diarrheal diseases often result from ingestion of contaminated water or food. The population of La Paz, Bolivia is directly or indirectly exposed to the sewage-contaminated La Paz River. We conducted a bacteriologic survey of the La Paz River to quantify the level of bacterial contamination, with particular reference to enteropathogens. A total bacterial count exceeding 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU)/ml, including lactose fermenting and nonfermenting, gram-negative bacilli of approximately 10(5) CFU/ml, respectively, were detected in river water samples collected near two densely populated areas. A total bacterial count of 10(5) CFU/ml was also detected at the most downstream area of the river near a sparsely populated area. At four sampling locations, several enteropathogens were detected, including five enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (serotype O6, O15, and O159), two enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) (serotype O44), two enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) (serotype O29), and three Salmonella O4 group isolates. The heat-labile enterotoxin gene and the invasive toxin gene were detected in all ETEC and EIEC isolates by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Nine isolates of E. coli were found by the agar dilution method to be susceptible to ampicillin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol, and ampicillin resistance was found in only two isolates of EIEC 7-4 (serotype O29) and EPEC 7-5 (serotype O44). Ampicillin resistance was coded on plasmids and transferred conjugatively to E. coli chi1037 at a frequency of 10(-5) CFU/donor by the broth mating method. Strains of Aeromonas caviae, which can cause diarrheal disease in infants, were detected in vegetables grown in fields irrigated by water from the La Paz River. The survival of nine isolates of E. coli in filtered river water was compared with that of laboratory strains (E. coli chi1037, W3110, and ATCC29577). The survival time of seven isolates, excluding two ampicillin-resistant isolates, was markedly longer than that of the laboratory strains. Our results show a high bacterial contamination of the La Paz river and suggest that such levels may contribute to the high incidence of diarrheal disease in the city of La Paz.

Phase variation of Enterococcus faecalis pAD1 conjugation functions relates to changes in iteron sequence region.

pAD1 (60 kb) is a conjugative, hemolysin/bacteriocin plasmid in Enterococcus faecalis. It confers a mating response to the peptide sex pheromone cAD1 produced by recipient (plasmid-free) cells, leading to highly efficient plasmid transfer in broth matings. Control of the physiological response to cAD1 can been overridden by a reversible phase variation event at frequencies on the order of 10(-4) to 10(-3) per cell per generation (L. T. Pontius and D. B. Clewell, Plasmid 26:172-185, 1991). The variant forms are designated Dryc and Dry+, which reflects the colony morphologies of cells whose conjugation functions are switched on and off, respectively. Here we show that Dryc variants exhibit a structural change in a region between repA and repB that contains two clusters of 8-bp iterons. The change involved a 31- or 32-bp increase in size of this region. In three or four independent variants examined, one of the iteron clusters increased in size from 13 to 17 iterons. When iteron DNA was placed on a multicopy plasmid and introduced into a wild-type pAD1 derivative, the Dryc phenotype was generated. Since traA, a key negative regulator of conjugation, bears several centrally located iteron-like sequences with the same orientation, we speculate that the protein(s) that normally binds iterons (possibly RepA and/or RepB) blocks traA transcription in Dryc variants.

Effect of parental growth on dynamics of conjugative plasmid transfer in the pea spermosphere

Plasmid transfer rates for the conjugative plasmid R388::Tn1721 from Pseudomonas cepacia (donor) to Pseudomonas fluorescens (recipient) on agar media, in broth, and in microcosms containing sterile or nonsterile soil, in the presence or absence of germinating pea seeds, were determined. Donors, recipients, and transconjugants were enumerated on selective media after 1 day on agar or in broth culture and over a 7-day period in soil or pea spermosphere microcosms. Donor and recipient growth rates and plasmid transfer rate constants [(gamma), where (gamma) = transconjugants (middot) (donors (middot) recipients)(sup-1) (middot) h(sup-1)] were calculated for three initial parental densities (10(sup4), 10(sup6), or 10(sup8) CFU/g or ml) in each system. For all initial density levels, values of (gamma) in agar and broth matings were higher than those in soil or in the pea spermosphere-rhizosphere microcosms. Values of (gamma) were not influenced by the pea spermosphere or by sterile or nonsterile conditions of the soil. However, (gamma) values in microcosm experiments were inversely related to initial parental density and were directly related to donor growth rates. Values of (gamma) averaged 4 x 10(sup-10), 4 x 10(sup-12), and 3 x 10(sup-14) when initial donor and recipient cell densities were 10(sup4), 10(sup6), and 10(sup8) CFU/g, respectively. These results suggest that the plasmid transfer rate constant is independent of parental cell density only when parental growth is not limited. In a resource-limited environment, intra- or interspecific competition may reduce the transfer rate by limiting parental growth.

Plasmids in tributyltin-resistant bacteria from fresh and estuarine waters

Twenty-six tributyltin (TBT)-resistant bacterial strains isolated from sediments were examined for the presence of plasmids. Plasmids of the size reported to carry metal resistance genes were not found in 15 of the strains, indicating that resistance does not have to be plasmid-mediated. Attempts to cure plasmid-containing strains using acridine organge, ethidium bromide, novobiocin or sodium dodecylsulfate, or by growth at elevated temperature were not successful, nor were plasmids transferred from TBT-resistant strains into TBT-sensitive organisms by electroporation. In a broth mating experiment however, plasmid pUM505, a conjugative plasmid known to encode chromium resistance inPseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, was introduced into TBT-sensitiveBeijerinckia sp. MC-27 isolated from freshwater sediment. The TBT tolerance of theBeijerinckia sp. increased 100-fold, from 8.4 μM TBT inBeijerinckia sp. MC-27 to 840 μM TBT inBeijerinckia sp. MC-27 (pUM505) on solid medium. The plasmid was transferred at a frequency of approximately 6×10−4. TBT-resistant transconjugants grew faster in media containing TBT and lost their enhanced TBT tolerance and the plasmid upon serial transfer in medium without TBT. Spontaneous mutants of the donorP. aeruginosa lost both TBT resistance and the plasmid. Therefore, TBT resistance in bacteria can be plasmid-mediated. To our knowledge, this is the first report that resistance to a tin compound can be plasmid-mediated.

Conjugal transfer at natural population densities in a microcosm simulating an estuarine environment

Estuarine microcosms were used to follow conjugal transfer of a broad host range IncP1 plasmid from a Pseudomonas putida donor to indigenous bacteria. Donor cells were added at a concentration similar to the natural abundance of bacteria in the water column (106 cells ml−1). Transfer was not detected in any of the test microcosms (calculated limit of detection of 10−7 and 10−4 transconjugants donor−1 in water column and sediment, respectively), with the exception of transfer to an isogenic recipient (added at 105 cells ml−1) in sediments of controls that had been inoculated with both donors and recipients. The same plasmid was transferred with high efficiencies (10−1 to 10−3) to a variety of recipients in filter and broth matings. These results suggest that if conjugal gene transfer occurred, it was at efficiencies that were not detectable in estuarine microcosms simulating natural population densities.

Conjugal transfer at natural population densities in a microcosm simulating an estuarine environment

Estuarine microcosms were used to follow conjugal transfer of a broad host range IncP1 plasmid from a Pseudomonas putida donor to indigenous bacteria. Donor cells were added at a concentration similar to the natural abundance of bacteria in the water column (10 6 cells ml −1). Transfer was not detected in any of the test microcosms (calculated limit of detection of 10 −7 and 10 −4 transconjugants donor −1 in water column and sediment, respectively), with the exception of transfer to an isogenic recipient (added at 10 5 cells ml −1) in sediments of controls that had been inoculated with both donors and recipients. The same plasmid was transferred with high efficiencies (10 −1 to 10 −3) to a variety of recipients in filter and broth matings. These results suggest that if conjugal gene transfer occurred, it was at efficiencies that were not detectable in estuarine microcosms simulating natural population densities.

Conjugal Transfer of Transposon Tn916 from Enterococcus faecalis to Bacillus licheniformis

Transposon Tn916 was conjugally transferred from Enterococcus faecalis to Bacillus licheniformis bacterial strains ATCC 10716 and ATCC 9945A by filter and broth matings. The Tn916 transfer frequencies to B. licheniformis ranged from 10-7 to 10-5 selecting for tetracycline-resistant (Tcr) transconjugants depending on broth or filter mating. Movement of Tn916 was demonstrated when TcrB. licheniformis transconjugants were mated with Bacillus subtilis strain W23. Tn916 insertion caused several auxotrophic and bacitracin deficient mutants. Southern blot analyses of Hin dIII chromosomal digests extracted from Tcr transconjugants showed that the transposon inserted at different sites in the B. licheniformis chromosome and the copy number of Tn916 varied. This approach should be useful for genetic studies of B. licheniformis.

Mobilization of small plasmids in Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis is accompanied by specific aggregation

Mobilizations of pBC16 and pAND006, containing the replicon of the Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis plasmid pTX14-3, between strains of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis were examined. Transconjugants appeared after a few minutes and reached a maximum frequency after approximately 2 h. Plasmid pBC16 was mobilized at a frequency approximately 200 times that of pAND006. However, pAND006 was consistently transferred, suggesting that the replicon of pTX14-3 is sufficient to sustain mobilization in B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. A specific protease-sensitive coaggregation between strains of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis was found to be unambiguously correlated with plasmid transfer. Two aggregation phenotypes, Agr+ and Agr-, were identified in this subspecies. Aggregation disappeared when the optical density of the mating mixture at 600 nm exceeded approximately 1, and it did not reappear upon dilution. Aggregation was shown to involve interactions of cells with opposite aggregation phenotypes, and evidence of a proteinaceous molecule on the surface of the Agr- that is cells involved in aggregation formation is presented. Matings and selection for the presence of two antibiotic resistance plasmids followed by identification of the host cell revealed that mobilization was unidirectional, from the Agr+ cell to the Agr- cell. The aggregation phenotype was found to be transferred with high frequency (approximately 100%) in broth matings, and the appearance of Agr- isolates from Agr+ strains suggested that the loci involved in aggregation formation are located on a plasmid. No excreted aggregation-inducing signals were detected in the supernatant or culture filtrate of either the donor, the recipient, or the mating mixture.

Assessment of Abilities of Conjugal Transfer and Stability of pAMβ1 in Dairy Lactobacilli with Emphasis on Thermophilic and Nonstarter Lactobacilli

Summary To assess the potential of horizontal gene transfer in thermophilic dairy lactobacilli and mesophilic nonstarter bacteria, a broad spectrum of strains isolated from dairy products ( Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis, L. acidophilus, L. helveticus, L. brevis, L. plantarum, L. casei subsp. casei, L. casei subsp. rhamnosus, L. fermentum, L. salivarius subsp. salicinius ) was crossed with lactic acid bacteria harbouring the broad-host-range plasmid pAMβ1 ( Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris, Lactobacillus curvatus ) in agar-surface, filter-, and (milk) broth matings. A low-frequency-transfer of pAMβ1 was obtained from L. lactis subsp. lactis and S. thermophilus donors into dairy isolates of L. helveticus (transfer frequencies: 1 × 10 -7 — 8 × 10 -8 transconjugants per recipient cell) and of L. brevis (transfer frequencies: 2 × 10 -7 -5 × 10 -7 transconjugants per recipient cell) in agar-surface-matings. During non-selective successive propagation in skim milk at 37°C, a rapid decrease of plasmid stability occurred in L. brevis within the first 4 days (equivalent to 28 generations). At 30°C-culturing, a complete loss of pAMβ1 was detected after 112 generations (16 days) whilst this plasmid was still present in 10% of the L. brevis cells after 18 days of culturing at 24°C (63 generations). In contrast, growth in vegetable juices (cabbage juice, potato juice) at 30°C resulted in a remarkable stability of pAMβ1 which was still found in 80% of the cells after 77 generations (11 days).

Identification of new sex pheromone plasmids in Enterococcus faecalis.

We describe the identification of the following new sex pheromone plasmids in Enterococcus faecalis: a haemolysin-bacteriocin plasmid, pIP964; three R plasmids, pIP1017, pIP1438 and pIP1440; and two cryptic conjugative plasmids, pIP1141 and pMV120. The identification was based on the formation of cell aggregates on filter membranes during conjugation, on efficient transfer in broth matings, and on a positive clumping reaction of cells carrying these plasmids. In addition these plasmids hybridized with DNA probes specific for sex pheromone-induced structural genes encoding surface proteins required for conjugative transfer of the plasmids.

High frequency of conjugation in Lactobacillus mediated by an aggregation-promoting factor

Summary: Lactobacillus plantarum strain 4B2, which exhibits a strong autoaggregating phenotype, receives the broad-host-range plasmid pAMβ1 with conjugation efficiencies as high as 10−2 transconjugants per donor using solid matings; broth matings also occur, but at low transfer frequencies. Filter-sterilized spent supernatant of this strain contains a 32 kDa protein that promotes aggregation, and consequently a high frequency of conjugation, in lactic acid bacteria containing α-1,2-glucose-substituted lipoteichoic or teichoic acids. It appears, therefore, that the substituted lipoteichoic or teichoic acids act as receptors for the aggregation-promoting protein.

A phase variation event that activates conjugation functions encoded by the Enterococcus faecalis plasmid pAD1

Enterococcus faecalis cells carrying the conjugative plasmid pAD1 undergo several related changes when induced by the sex pheromone cAD1. Included are the production of novel surface proteins, the formation of cellular aggregates in broth cultures, the ability to transfer the plasmid at high frequency in broth matings, and the change from a soft to a “dry” colony morphology. Spontaneous, constitutively dry colony (Dry c) variants of E. faecalis (pAD1) were found to arise at a frequency of 10 −4–10 −2. Dry c phase variants constitutively expressed aggregation and plasmid transfer functions typically expressed only under cAD1-inducing conditions. Reversion of Dry c variants to a cAD1-inducible phenotype (Dry +) occurred at a similar frequency. Tn917- lac mutagenesis of regions of pAD1 previously shown to be involved in plasmid transfer revealed that in Dry + cells these regions were transcribed only when the inducer, cAD1, was present. In Dry c variants the regions were transcribed constitutively. A pAD1 miniplasmid containing determinants regulating cAD1 inducible plasmid transfer and a cAD1-inducible lacZ transcriptional fusion displayed phase variation in LacZ expression at a rate similar to the Dry +/Dry c phase variation. These results suggest that the site of mutation(s) resulting in the Dry c phenotype is within the regulation-related region of pAD1. Complementation tests showed that this region, when supplied in trans, complemented the Dry c phenotype. Phase variation affecting mating functions represents an alternative (pheromone independent) method of regulating pAD1 transfer.

Formation of transconjugants on plating media following in situ conjugation experiments

Conjugation on agar plates following mating trials can cause transconjugant numbers to be overestimated. Numbers of transconjugants detected after incubating donors and recipients together were compared with those observed when donors and recipients were incubated separately and then mixed immediately prior to plating on selective agar. Mating comparisons were conducted using broth, a soil slurry, and nonsterile soil. Nalidixic acid was added to selective agar plates to investigate its use as an inhibitor of plate mating. The number of transconjugants from broth matings did not significantly differ from the number of transconjugants produced by plate mating on selective media lacking nalidixic acid. Addition of nalidixic acid to selective media reduced the number of transconjugants from broth matings by 10-fold and the number of transconjugants from plate mating after incubation in broth by 100-fold. The number of transconjugants detected from mating experiments in soil slurries was significantly greater than the corresponding plate matings (p = 0.0073). Furthermore, the addition of nalidixic acid to selective agar eliminated all plate matings. In nonsterile soil matings, transconjugants were detected immediately after the inoculation of donors and recipients into soil only when nalidixic acid was absent from the medium. Key words: transconjugants, in situ conjugation, gene exchange in soil, plate matings.

Insertion of Tn 916 into Bacillus pumilus plasmid pMGD302 and evidence for plasmid transfer by conjugation

As part of an effort to develop systems for genetic analysis of strains of Bacillus pumilus which are being used as a microbial hay preservative, we introduced the conjugative Enterococcus faecalis transposon Tn 916 into B. pumilus ATCC 1 and two naturally occurring hay isolates of B. pumilus. B. pumilus transconjugants resistant to tetracycline were detected at a frequency of approximately 6.5 × 10 −7 per recipient after filter mating with E. faecalis CG110. Southern hybridization confirmed the insertion of Tn 916 into several different sites in the B. pumilus chromosome. Transfer of Tn 916 also was observed between strains of B. pumilus in filter matings, and one donor strain transferred tetracycline resistance to recipients in broth matings at high frequency (up to 3.4 × 10 −5 per recipient). Transfer from this donor strain in broth matings was DNase-resistant and was not mediated by culture filtrates. Transconjugants from these broth matings contained derivatives of a cryptic plasmid (pMGD302, approx 60 kb) from the donor strain with Tn 976 inserted at various sites. The plasmids containing Tn 916 insertions transferred to a B. pumilus recipient strain at frequencies of approx 5 × 10 −6 per recipient. This evidence suggests that pMGD302 can transfer by a process resembling conjugation between strains of B. Pumilus.