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APPLICATION OF DNA PROBES TO ANALYSIS OF BACTERIOPHAGE DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Citation:
Agunseitan, O., G. Sayler, AND R. Miller. APPLICATION OF DNA PROBES TO ANALYSIS OF BACTERIOPHAGE DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS IN THE ENVIRONMENT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-92/388 (NTIS PB93121200).
Description:
Radiolabeled bacteriophage DNA probes have been used n this study to determine the distribution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infecteing bacteriophages in natural samples of lake water, sediment, soil, and sewage. he sensitivity of detection of bacteriophage with the DNA probes was between 103 and 104 PFU and 106 to 107 CFU of lysogenized bacteria detectable with a homologous phage DNA probe. nalyses of environmental samples suggest that up to 40% of P. aeruginosa in natural ecosystems contain DNA sequences homologous to phage genomes. y using different bacteriophage DNA probes, the diversity of the bacteriophage population in sewage was estimated to be higher than that in other natural samples. he indication that transducing phages and prophages are widely distributed in the Pseudomonas populations investigated has considerable implications for the frequency of natural gene transfer by transduction and ot lysogenic conversion of host bacteria in natural ecosystems.