In situ survival of genetically engineered microorganisms in a tropical aquatic environment

✍ Scribed by Alvarez, A. J. ;Yumet, G. M. ;Santiago, C. L. ;Hazen, T. C. ;Chaudhry, R. ;Toranzos, G. A.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 390 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1053-4725
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2256(1996)11:1<21::aid-tox4>3.0.co;2-b

✦ Synopsis

In this study, the survival of genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) and their interactions with the environmental microbiota of a tropical river was investigated. Diffusion chambers were used for the in situ survival experiments with a nonplasmid containing Escherichia coli DH7 strain and two model GEMs, E. coli JM103 containing a 2.6 kilobase plasmid (pUC9) and E. coli DH1 with a 4.8 kb plasmid (pWTAla5'). Pure culture survival studies indicated that after a week in the environment a 1.0 log,, decrease in bacterial numbers occurred for both E. coli DH1, while a 3.0 log,, reduction was observed for E. coli JM103. However, a reduction of 4.0 log,, was observed for the E. coli DH1 (pWTAla5') when placed in a chamber conjointly with the resident microbiota. The data suggest that the presence of a plasmid makes no difference on the survival time of GEMs, whereas the presence of competing bacteria is ultimately what limits the survival time of GEMs in the environment.