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Identification of Essential Operons with a Rhamnose-Inducible Promoter in Burkholderia cenocepacia

Silvia T. Cardona,^1, Carmen L. Mueller,¹ and Miguel A. Valvano^1,2*

Infectious Diseases Research Group, Siebens-Drake Research Institute, Departments of Microbiology and Immunology,¹ Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1²

Received 15 December 2005/ Accepted 1 February 2006

Scanning of bacterial genomes to identify essential genes is of biological interest, for understanding the basic functions required for life, and of practical interest, for the identification of novel targets for new antimicrobial therapies. In particular, the lack of efficacious antimicrobial treatments for infections caused by the Burkholderia cepacia complex is causing high morbidity and mortality of cystic fibrosis patients and of patients with nosocomial infections. Here, we present a method based on delivery of the tightly regulated rhamnose-inducible promoter P_rhaB for identifying essential genes and operons in Burkholderia cenocepacia. We demonstrate that different levels of gene expression can be achieved by using two vectors that deliver P_rhaB at two different distances from the site of insertion. One of these vectors places P_rhaB at the site of transposon insertion, while the other incorporates the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (e-gfp) downstream from P_rhaB. This system allows us to identify essential genes and operons in B. cenocepacia and provides a new tool for systematically identifying and functionally characterizing essential genes at the genomic level.

Dedicated to the memory of Lucía Mondéjar de Cardona.

Present address: Department of Microbiology, 418 Buller Building, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2.

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