Quantitation and Purification of Acquired Plasmid DNA Coding for Antimicrobial Drug Resistance

This study provides evidence of direct transfer of functional DNA from species to species, specifically Escherichia coli pGFPuv and Enterobacter aerogenes. An Escherichia coli made pGFPuv invasive by transformation via miniprep transfers DNA after simple co-incubation with Enterobacter aerogenes. Transfer efficiency was enhanced or disturbed in the bacteria by altering pH. Expression of the acquired antibiotic resistant gene was detected in the recipient Enterobacter aerogenes, and the number of ampicillin resistant was quantitated and statistically analyzed to show transfer rates of the 1 kb gene. This procedure demonstrates a dire need for increase molecular investigations into the antimicrobial resistance that many pathogenic invaders are acquiring.