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IMPORTANCE OF THE DYNAMICS OF BACTERIOPHAGE-HOST INTERACTIONS TO BACTERIAL ABUNDANCE AND GENETIC DIVERSITY IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS (RESEARCH BRIEF)
Citation:
Miller, R. V. IMPORTANCE OF THE DYNAMICS OF BACTERIOPHAGE-HOST INTERACTIONS TO BACTERIAL ABUNDANCE AND GENETIC DIVERSITY IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS (RESEARCH BRIEF). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research, Gulf Ecology Division, Gulf Breeze, FL, EPA/600/S-98/002, 1998.
Impact/Purpose:
We initiated studies to investigate the natural reservoirs of bacteriophages and the dynamics of phage-host interactions in the aquatic environment. This report summarizes our observations.
Description:
Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its bacteriophages as a model system, we have clearly demonstrated a significant potential for viral-mediated gene transfer (transduction) of both plasmid and chromosomal DNA in freshwater microbial populations. These investigations have predicted that the most likely reservoir for environmental bacteriophages capable of transduction is the lysogenized members of the natural microbial population. However, both primary infection of non-lysogens and prophage activation from lysogens can generate significant numbers of transducing particles. These studies have led us to formulate a model for the dispersement of genetic material from an introduced organism to related members of the autochthonous microbial community.