Across genus plasmid transformation between Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli and the effect of Escherichia coli on the transforming ability of free plasmid DNA.

The results presented in this article show that direct plasmid transfer from Escherichia coli carrying shuttle plasmid to Bacillus subtilis occurred when close contact between the two species was established by mixing E. coli and B. subtilis onto selective agar plates. The data demonstrate that the production of resistant colonies by plasmid transformation through cell contact was DNase I sensitive and dependent on transformable B. subtilis strains. Furthermore, another observation indicated that the E. coli strain is able to affect the transformation capability of B. subtilis. It is assumed that the donor strain is a momentous factor for taking up plasmid DNA. This conclusion is significant in the assessment of both the possibility of intercellular DNA transfer in natural habitats of micro-organisms and the risk of the application of genetically engineered micro-organisms.