This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Battisti, L Articles by Thorne, C B Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Battisti, L Articles by Thorne, C B

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1985 May; 162(2): 543-550

Mating system for transfer of plasmids among Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus thuringiensis.

ABSTRACT

To facilitate the analysis of genetic determinants carried by large resident plasmids of Bacillus anthracis, a mating system was developed which promotes plasmid transfer among strains of B. anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis. Transfer of the selectable tetracycline resistance plasmid pBC16 and other plasmids from B. thuringiensis to B. anthracis and B. cereus recipients occurred during mixed incubation in broth. Two plasmids, pXO11 and pXO12, found in B. thuringiensis were responsible for plasmid mobilization. B. anthracis and B. cereus transcipients inheriting either pXO11 or pXO12 were, in turn, effective donors. Transcipients harboring pXO12 were more efficient donors than those harboring pXO11; transfer frequencies ranged from 10(-4) to 10(-1) and from 10(-8) to 10(-5), respectively. Cell-to-cell contact was necessary for plasmid transfer, and the addition of DNase had no effect. The high frequencies of transfer, along with the fact that cell-free filtrates of donor cultures were ineffective, suggested that transfer was not phage mediated. B. anthracis and B. cereus transcipients which inherited pXO12 also acquired the ability to produce parasporal crystals (Cry+) resembling those produced by B. thuringiensis, indicating that pXO12 carries a gene(s) involved in crystal formation. Transcipients which inherited pXO11 were Cry-. This mating system provides an efficient method for interspecies transfer of a large range of Bacillus plasmids by a conjugation-like process.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Reyes-Ramirez, A., Ibarra, J. E. (2008). Plasmid Patterns of Bacillus thuringiensis Type Strains. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 125-129 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Klee, S. R., Ozel, M., Appel, B., Boesch, C., Ellerbrok, H., Jacob, D., Holland, G., Leendertz, F. H., Pauli, G., Grunow, R., Nattermann, H. (2006). Characterization of Bacillus anthracis-Like Bacteria Isolated from Wild Great Apes from Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon.. J. Bacteriol. 188: 5333-5344 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Saile, E., Koehler, T. M. (2006). Bacillus anthracis Multiplication, Persistence, and Genetic Exchange in the Rhizosphere of Grass Plants.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 3168-3174 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Pomerantsev, A. P., Sitaraman, R., Galloway, C. R., Kivovich, V., Leppla, S. H. (2006). Genome Engineering in Bacillus anthracis Using Cre Recombinase. Infect. Immun. 74: 682-693 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tomita, H., Ike, Y. (2005). Genetic Analysis of Transfer-Related Regions of the Vancomycin Resistance Enterococcus Conjugative Plasmid pHT{beta}: Identification of oriT and a Putative Relaxase Gene. J. Bacteriol. 187: 7727-7737 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tinsley, E., Naqvi, A., Bourgogne, A., Koehler, T. M., Khan, S. A. (2004). Isolation of a Minireplicon of the Virulence Plasmid pXO2 of Bacillus anthracis and Characterization of the Plasmid-Encoded RepS Replication Protein. J. Bacteriol. 186: 2717-2723 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hurtle, W., Bode, E., Kulesh, D. A., Kaplan, R. S., Garrison, J., Bridge, D., House, M., Frye, M. S., Loveless, B., Norwood, D. (2004). Detection of the Bacillus anthracis gyrA Gene by Using a Minor Groove Binder Probe. J. Clin. Microbiol. 42: 179-185 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Pomerantsev, A. P., Kalnin, K. V., Osorio, M., Leppla, S. H. (2003). Phosphatidylcholine-Specific Phospholipase C and Sphingomyelinase Activities in Bacteria of the Bacillus cereus Group. Infect. Immun. 71: 6591-6606 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Chen, Y., Succi, J., Tenover, F. C., Koehler, T. M. (2003). {beta}-Lactamase Genes of the Penicillin-Susceptible Bacillus anthracis Sterne Strain. J. Bacteriol. 185: 823-830 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Barlass, P. J., Houston, C. W., Clements, M. O., Moir, A. (2002). Germination of Bacillus cereus spores in response to L-alanine and to inosine: the roles of gerL and gerQ operons. Microbiology 148: 2089-2095 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Qi, Y., Patra, G., Liang, X., Williams, L. E., Rose, S., Redkar, R. J., DelVecchio, V. G. (2001). Utilization of the rpoB Gene as a Specific Chromosomal Marker for Real-Time PCR Detection of Bacillus anthracis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67: 3720-3727 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Thomas, D. J. I., Morgan, J. A. W., Whipps, J. M., Saunders, J. R. (2001). Plasmid Transfer between Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis Strains in Laboratory Culture, River Water, and Dipteran Larvae. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67: 330-338 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Behravan, J., Chirakkal, H., Masson, A., Moir, A. (2000). Mutations in the gerP Locus of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus Affect Access of Germinants to Their Targets in Spores. J. Bacteriol. 182: 1987-1994 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Thomas, D. J. I., Morgan, J. A. W., Whipps, J. M., Saunders, J. R. (2000). Plasmid Transfer between the Bacillus thuringiensis Subspecies kurstaki and tenebrionis in Laboratory Culture and Soil and in Lepidopteran and Coleopteran Larvae. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66: 118-124 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Prüß, B. M., Dietrich, R., Nibler, B., Märtlbauer, E., Scherer, S. (1999). The Hemolytic Enterotoxin HBL Is Broadly Distributed among Species of the Bacillus cereus Group. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 5436-5442 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Clements, M. O., Moir, A. (1998). Role of the gerI Operon of Bacillus cereus 569 in the Response of Spores to Germinants. J. Bacteriol. 180: 6729-6735 [Abstract] [Full Text]