Mutability in Pseudomonas viridiflava as a programmed balance between antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity.

ABSTRACT: Mutable bacterial cells are defective in their DNA repair system and often have a phenotype different from that of their wild-type counterparts. In human bacterial pathogens, the mutable and hypermutable phenotypes are often associated with general antibiotic resistance. Here, we quantified the occurrence of mutable cells in Pseudomonas viridiflava, a phytopathogenic bacterium in the P. syringae complex with a broad host range and capacity to live as a saprophyte. Two phenotypic variants (transparent and mucoid) were produced by this bacterium. The transparent variant had a mutator phenotype, showed general antibiotic resistance and could not induce disease on the plant species tested (bean). In contrast, the mucoid variant did not display mutability or resistance to antibiotics and was ca

SUBMITTER: Bartoli C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6638476 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature