SEDL / STP / STP971-EB / STP34028S

Plasmid Mobility in the Ocean Environment

Grimes, DJ
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Somerville, CC
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Straube, W
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Roszak, DB
Molecular Biosystems, Inc., San Diego, CA

Ortiz-Conde, BA
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

MacDonell, MT
Molecular Biosystems, Inc., San Diego, CA

Colwell, RR
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Pages: 6    Published: Jan 1988

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Abstract

Evidence of plasmid selection and genetic exchange in natural aquatic environments, including the ocean, includes: (a) high incidence of plasmid-containing strains in polluted areas; (b) presence of free DNA in natural environments; (c) co-existence of identical plasmids in different cohabiting strains; and (d) data from in situ plasmid transfer experiments. Current research in our laboratory regarding plasmid mobility in the ocean centers around viable but nonculturable bacteria, cloning of ecologically significant genes, genetic exchange between deep sea bacteria under pressure at low temperature, and development of 16S ribosomal DNA probes for tracking genetically engineered microorganisms that are released to natural environments.