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The Pseudomonas horizontal gene pool: the role of IncP-9 plasmids in the diversity and adaptability of this genus

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The mobile elements of the Pseudomonas genus carry many genes of applied importance such as pathways for degradation of aromatic compounds, which can be exploited in bioremediation, as well as resistance genes, which are a clinical problem. The IncP-9 plasmids are one group of such elements, which include genes conferring both phenotypes. Having tools to monitor the presence of known plasmids is important to allow better understanding of the evolution of microbial communities during the course of a bioremediation cycle (and therefore increased reproducibility) or to allow monitoring of gene spread in clinical contexts. Being able to identify new degradative plasmids from diverse environmental samples may provide novel enzymes, which may find a use in new biotransformations. This proposal brings together four groups. One INTAS team has expertise with fundamental plasmid molecular biology and DNA sequencing. The other INTAS team has complementary expertise in molecular soil microbial ecology. The two NIS teams have expertise with Pseudomonas plasmids and the phenotypes they confer and they have specialised in different aspect of these plasmids, covering on the one hand biodegradation functions and on the other hand resistance genes.

They also have important collections of IncP-9 plasmids. The objective of this work is therefore to use molecular techniques to estimate the diversity among IncP-9 plasmids that are already present in the collections of Partner 3 and 4 and to use this information to design probes to detect new related plasmids from a variety of environments and then to isolate theses plasmids. The new plasmids will be characterised to provide an expanded resource for environmental and industrial biotechnology. The tools and the protocols for monitoring these moderately broad host range plasmids in the environment will also be developed for use by others. The basis for the apparent limitations on the host range of IncP-9 plasmids (temperature-sensitivity and instability outside Pseudomonas species) will be investigated to underpin their exploitation in biodegradation by mixed communities of bacteria. These latter studies will be complemented by microcosm experiments to determine the transfer of IncP-9 plasmids from an introduced host into indigenous microbial flora to assess how IncP-9 plasmids are likely to behave as vehicles of gene spread in the environment and the risks that they may pose with respect to Biosafety.

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University of Birmingham
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Edbgbaston
B15 2TT Birmingham
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Letzte Aktualisierung: 30 Oktober 2002

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/INTAS-1999-01487/de

European Union, 2024