EXPRESSION OF BACTERIOCIN‐LIKE ACTIVITY IN BATCH CULTURES OF NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS AND CONSEQUENCES FOR GENETIC RECOMBINATION

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The bactericidal activity found in 4 strains of N. meningitidis, and the bacteriostatic effect observed in one were expressed in the exponential phase of batch cultures and continued during the stationary phase. The active material was stable for > 50 h in agar media. In mixed cultures, a strain with inhibitory activity eradicated a sensitive strain and dominated the culture in the latter part of the exponential phase. Recombination took place in mixed cultures when at least 1 of the strains had the genetic properties which determine competence in transformation. The presence of inhibitory activity increased the recombination frequency at least 10-fold. Genetic markers were introduced into a strain with inhibitory activity from sensitive strains of N. meningitidis and from N. cinerea.