Development of a novel genetic system to create markerless deletion mutants of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus.

ABSTRACT: Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is a species of unique obligate predatory bacteria that utilize gram-negative bacteria as prey. Their life cycle alternates between a motile extracellular phase and a growth phase within the prey cell periplasm. The mechanism of prey cell invasion and the genetic networks and regulation during the life cycle have not been elucidated. The obligate predatory nature of the B. bacteriovorus life cycle suggests the use of this bacterium in potential applications involving pathogen control but adds complexity to the development of practical genetic systems that can be used to determine gene function. This work reports the development of a genetic technique for allelic exchange or gene inactivation by construction of in-frame markerless deletion mutants including the us

SUBMITTER: Steyert SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1951038 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature