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STUDIES ON THE CONTROL OF SPHAEROTILUS NATANS: BACTERIOPHAGES, PLASMIDS, AND GENE TRANSFER
Abstract
Means of controlling the proliferation of Sphaerotilus natans have been studied. SN1, the only previously reported bacteriophage specific for S. natans has been found to be lytic on only one strain of S. natans. Three phage isolates, designed SN2, SNX and (SLASHCIRC)LR1B exhibited broader host ranges. Serum neutralization tests indicated two of the isolates, SN2 and SNX, are antigenically related to SN1. SN2 DNA also contains a fluorescent compound identified first in SN1 DNA. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the differences between smooth and rough forms of S. natans. Intermediate types of cells appeared to have structures that may be precursors to the sheath or capsule found on rough forms. The broad host range plasmid RP1 was transferred to S. natans, but chromosomal gene transfer among S. natans and from S. natans to Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa mediated by RP1 was not detectable. However, the incidence of streptomycin resistance in cultures of E. coli and P. aeruginosa dramatically increased during plasmid transfer to streptomycin resistant S. natans. The mechanism of this phenomenon was not determined. Transfer of the more efficient chromosome mobilizing plasmid R68.45 to S. natans could not be demonstrated. FP2, a plasmid capable of mobilizing chromosomal markers but limited to P. aeruginosa was recombined with RP1. The hybrid plasmid was transferred to S. natans, but was not able to mediate any increased levels of chromosomal gene transfer.
Subject Area
Microbiology
Recommended Citation
WILLIAMS, ROBERT LEE, "STUDIES ON THE CONTROL OF SPHAEROTILUS NATANS: BACTERIOPHAGES, PLASMIDS, AND GENE TRANSFER" (1984). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8427917.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8427917