Mobilizing various plasmids into Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus

Abstract

This project focuses on mobilizing various plasmids into wild-type Bdellovibrio. Although we have become extremely successful in moving numerous plasmids into host-independent Bdellovibrio, working with wild-type Bdellovibrio has proven to be a much more dificult task. With host independent Bdellovibrio, the bacterium grows on nutrient medium and are easily isolated. Wild-type Bdellovibrio allows the researcher to observe first hand the activities of the bacterium as it invades host cells. This semester I was able to mobilize the pUTTcRpLac-RFP plasmid into wild-type Bdellovibrio 109J. Future work on this project may include additional matings with wild-type Bdellovibrio and other E.coli plasmids. If the matings are successful, then the recumbinant Bdellovibrio can be observed as it goes through the different stages of its life cycle.