ISSN:
1573-0972
Keywords:
Conjugation
;
metal resistance
;
plasmid DNA
;
transformation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
Abstract Heavy metal concentrations in soil treated with industrial wastewater of Aligarh City (U.P.), India were determined. The analysis of test samples revealed high levels of Fe, Zn, Ni and Cu. A total of 45 Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from soil and were characterized on the basis of morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics. MICs of Hg2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Cr3+, and Zn2+ for each isolate were determined. Eighty percent of the strains isolated from soil harboured resistance to copper, whereas 73.3% of the isolates exhibited resistance to cadmium, 71.1% to chromium and zinc and 48.8% to mercury. A maximum MIC of 200 μg/ml for mercury and 1600 μg/ml for other metals was observed. Metal resistance was found to be plasmid mediated as evidenced by transformation studies. Further, the transmissible nature of chromium resistance was confirmed by conjugation. Agarose gel electrophoresis using the miniprep method for plasmid isolation revealed that these isolates harboured plasmids of molecular weights (45 & 47 kb) using EcoRI and HindIII digests of λDNA and undigested λDNA as standard markers.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008905902282
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