ENCAPSULATION BY TRANSFORMATION OF STRAINS OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS DETERMINED BY THE SERUM-SOFT AGAR TECHNIQUE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 242  (4) , 436-445
Abstract
Transformation for capsular-types (A and B) between 4 S. aureus strains was attempted using a serum-soft agar technique to distinguish the capsular-type. DNA preparations from the Smith diffuse strain (capsular-type A) transformed strain NS58C (unencapsulated variant of capsular-type B) to type A. The strain NS58C was Ala- and His- but the 2 transformants tested were Ala+ and His+. These properties coincided with those of the donor strain. The following are characteristics of the transformants, which are quite different from the untransformed recipient cells: negative clumping factor reaction; diffuse-type growth in serum-soft agar; and high mouse virulence. The change to capsular-type A was antigenically confirmed by EM using ferritin conjugated anti-capsular antibody.

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