Research Product

Both transduction of single chromosomal loci and co-transduction of closely linked loci were observed between lysogenic and non-lysogenic strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a freshwater habitat. Transductants were recovered at frequencies of 10-6 to 10-5 transductants/CFU. Transductants of lysogenized strains were recovered ten to 100-fold more frequently than were transductants of non-lysogenic parents. Lysogens thus are capable of introducing phages capable of mediating generalized transduction into the natural microbial community and serving as recipients of transduced DNA. It would appear that lysogeny has the potential of increasing the size and flexibility of the gene pool available to natural populations of bacteria. The ability to generate and select new genetic combinations through phage-mediated exchange can be significant in the face of a continually changing environment and may contribute to the apparent fitness of the lysogenic state in natural ecosystems.