Genome-wide screen for Escherichia coli genes involved in repressing cell-to-cell transfer of non-conjugative plasmids.

Acquiring new genetic traits by lateral gene transfer is a bacterial strategy for environment adaptation. We previously showed that Escherichia coli could laterally transmit non-conjugative plasmids in co-cultures containing strains with and without the plasmid. In this study, using the Keio collection, a comprehensive library of E.

Genome-wide screening of Escherichia coli genes involved in execution and promotion of cell-to-cell transfer of non-conjugative plasmids: rodZ (yfgA) is essential for plasmid acceptance in recipient cells.

Acquisition of new genetic traits by horizontal gene transfer is a bacterial strategy for adaptation to the environment. We previously showed that Escherichia coli can transmit non-conjugative plasmids laterally in a co-culture containing strains with and without the plasmid. In this study, using the Keio collection, a comprehensive library of E.

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.