Monitoring survival and gene transfer in soil microcosms of recombinant Escherichia coli designed to represent an industrial production strain

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 1991 May;35(2):247-52. doi: 10.1007/BF00184696.

Abstract

A genetically engineered microorganism (GEM) was designed to exemplify bacterial strains used for the production of biological material in industry. The recombinant DNA was located on a safety plasmid (pUC19). Survival and persistence of the GEM and its recombinant DNA (rDNA) was determined in soil microcosms by using different monitoring methods, including the polymerase-chain reaction, to amplify and detect the specific rDNA. Depending on nutritional status, both the GEM and its rDNA had disappeared within 16 (amended soil) or 28 days (non-amended soil) with a limit of detection of 5 cells/g soil and 20 fg DNA/g soil.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification
  • Ecology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Genetic Markers
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Soil Microbiology*
  • Transfection*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Genetic Markers