Genetic engineering biofilms in situ using ultrasound-mediated DNA delivery.

ABSTRACT: The ability to directly modify native and established biofilms has enormous potential in understanding microbial ecology and application of biofilm in 'real-world' systems. However, efficient genetic transformation of established biofilms at any scale remains challenging. In this study, we applied an ultrasound-mediated DNA delivery (UDD) technique to introduce plasmid to established non-competent biofilms in situ. Two different plasmids containing genes coding for superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) and the flavin synthesis pathway were introduced into established bacterial biofilms in microfluidic flow (transformation efficiency of 3.9 ± 0.3 × 10^-7 cells in biofilm) and microbial fuel cells (MFCs), respectively, both employing UDD. Gene expression and functional effe

SUBMITTER: Ng CK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8313276 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature