Publication Date:
2016-06-02
Description:
The impact of gene mutations on the growth of the cells can be studied using pure cultures. However, the importance of certain proteins and pathways can be also examined via co-culturing wild type and its mutant derivative. Here, the relative fitness of a mutant strain that lacks the global nitrogen regulator, CodY, was examined in Bacillus cereus , a food poisoning Gram-positive bacterium. Fitness measurements revealed that the codY strain was outcompeted when cocultured with the wild-type ATCC 14579 under various rich laboratory medium, and also when inoculated in certain beverages. In nutrient-poor minimal medium, the codY mutant had comparable fitness to the wild-type strain. Interestingly, the relative fitness of the codY strain was antagonistic when it was cultivated in apple or orange juices due to unknown properties of these beverages, highlighting the importance of chemical composition of the test medium during the bacterial fitness measurements.
Keywords:
Physiology & Biochemistry
Print ISSN:
0378-1097
Electronic ISSN:
1574-6968
Topics:
Biology
