Monitoring the dissemination of the broad-host-range plasmid pB10 in sediment microcosms by quantitative PCR.

ABSTRACT: Studying the transfer of specific mobile genetic elements in complex environmental matrices remains difficult because suitable molecular tools are not yet available to back up classical culture-dependent approaches. In this report, we show that quantitative PCR could be used to monitor the dissemination of the broad-host-range plasmid pB10 in sediment microcosms. This approach lies in the differential measurement of the host and plasmid DNAs used to inoculate the microcosms, using a particular design of quantitative PCR primers/probes where we took advantage of the mosaic aspect of the bacterial genomes to achieve a highly specific quantitative PCR detection system.

SUBMITTER: Bonot S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2798623 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature