Open AccessThe enhancement of conjugal plasmid pBHR1 transfer between bacteria in the presence of extracellular metabolic products produced by Microcystis aeruginosa
Author(s) -
Ueki Masaya,
Matsui Kazuaki,
Choi Kwangsoon,
Kawabata Zen'ichiro
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsec.2004.07.003
Subject(s) - microcystis aeruginosa , biology , plasmid , bacteria , pseudomonas stutzeri , microbiology and biotechnology , pseudomonas aeruginosa , escherichia coli , extracellular , pseudomonadales , pseudomonadaceae , cyanobacteria , biochemistry , dna , genetics , gene
Conjugal plasmid transfer from Escherichia coli S17‐1 (pBHR1) to Pseudomonas stutzeri was investigated in the presence of a cyanophyta Microcystis aeruginosa . The plasmid transfer frequency increased with higher densities of M. aeruginosa . The extracellular metabolic products (EMPs) from M. aeruginosa were found to enhance the plasmid transfer between bacteria. Furthermore, the plasmid transfer frequency in medium containing EMPs was significantly higher than that in culture medium with or without glucose. These results suggest that M. aeruginosa enhances conjugal plasmid transfer between bacteria through its EMPs, and that identity of the carbon source is an important factor affecting conjugal plasmid transfer in aquatic environments.