Wild-type strains of Dictyostelium discoideum can be transformed using a novel selection cassette driven by the promoter of the ribosomal V18 gene.

Almost all methods for transformation of the social ameba Dictyostelium discoideum rely on axenic growth, that is, growth in a synthetic medium, for at least part of the procedure. Axenic growth requires several mutations. Here we describe a procedure that can be used to transform wild-type strains which are able to grow only on the natural food source, bacteria.