Low-frequency, pbsi-mediated plasmid transduction in Bacillus pumilus

Abstract

Three bacteriophages were tested for ability to transduce the plasmid of pPL10 between W mutant derivatives of Bacillus pumilus NRS 576. Phage PBP1- and PMB1-generated plasmid transductants occurred at about 10% the frequency of transductants for a chromosome marker. Phage PBS1-generated plasmid transductants occurred at less than 0.1% the frequency of transductants for a chromosome marker. Possible reasons for the extremely reduced capacity of PBS1 to generate plasmid transductants are discussed.