This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sander, M.
Right arrow Articles by Schmieger, H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sander, M.
Right arrow Articles by Schmieger, H.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Sander, M.
Right arrow Articles by Schmieger, H.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2001, p. 1490-1493, Vol. 67, No. 4
0099-2240/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/AEM.67.4.1490-1493.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Method for Host-Independent Detection of Generalized Transducing Bacteriophages in Natural Habitats

Michaela Sander and Horst Schmieger*

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Institut für Genetik und Mikrobiologie, D-80638 Munich, Germany

Received 8 December 2000/Accepted 6 February 2001

Despite an increasing interest in horizontal gene transfer in bacteria, the role of generalized transduction in this process has not been well investigated yet. Certainly one of the reasons is that only a small fraction of general transducing bacteriophages have been characterized, because many bacterial hosts needed for propagation and identification are not culturable or are simply unknown. A method for host-independent detection of transducing bacteriophages was developed. Phage-encapsulated DNA was used as a template for PCR amplification of 16S ribosomal DNA using primers specific for the 16S rRNA genes of most eubacteria. Sequencing of the cloned amplification products permits the identification of the host bacteria. The Salmonella phage P22 was used as an example. Applying this method to a sample of the supernatant of the mixed liquor in the aeration tank of an activated sludge treatment works revealed the presence of transducing phages infecting several bacterial species for which such phages have not yet been described. This method is suitable for estimating the contribution of generalized transduction to horizontal gene transfer in different habitats.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Institut für Genetik und Mikrobiologie, Maria-Ward-Str. 1a, D-80638 Munich, Germany. Phone: 49-89-2180-6155. Fax: 49-89-2180-6160. E-mail: h.schmieger{at}lrz.uni-muenchen.de.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2001, p. 1490-1493, Vol. 67, No. 4
0099-2240/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/AEM.67.4.1490-1493.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Ghosh, D., Roy, K., Williamson, K. E., Srinivasiah, S., Wommack, K. E., Radosevich, M. (2009). Acyl-Homoserine Lactones Can Induce Virus Production in Lysogenic Bacteria: an Alternative Paradigm for Prophage Induction. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 7142-7152 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Ghosh, D., Roy, K., Williamson, K. E., White, D. C., Wommack, K. E., Sublette, K. L., Radosevich, M. (2008). Prevalence of Lysogeny among Soil Bacteria and Presence of 16S rRNA and trzN Genes in Viral-Community DNA. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 495-502 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Beumer, A., Robinson, J. B. (2005). A Broad-Host-Range, Generalized Transducing Phage (SN-T) Acquires 16S rRNA Genes from Different Genera of Bacteria. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 8301-8304 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Klieve, A. V., Yokoyama, M. T., Forster, R. J., Ouwerkerk, D., Bain, P. A., Mawhinney, E. L. (2005). Naturally Occurring DNA Transfer System Associated with Membrane Vesicles in Cellulolytic Ruminococcus spp. of Ruminal Origin. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 4248-4253 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»