Tn5-OT182 should not be used to identify genes involved in biofilm formation in Burkholderia pseudomallei

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2012 Jan;43(1):124-8.

Abstract

Burkholderia pseudomallei, a gram-negative bacterium, is the causative agent of melioidosis. One of the important virulence properties of this bacteria is its ability to form a biofilm. Genes involved in biofilm formation in B. pseudomallei have not been thoroughly studied. In this study, Tn5-OT182 mutagenesis was used to isolate of B. pseudomallei strain A2 mutants unable to produce biofilm. Ten biofilm-defective transposon mutants were isolated and analyzed. Flanking DNA from each transposon mutant were self-cloned and sequenced, then the sequences were analyzed with the BLAST program. To confirm these genes are involved in biofilm formation, we constructed three gene deletion mutants marked with a tetracycline resistance gene. The constructed tet(r)-marked deletion mutants were checked for correct structure and size by polymerase chain reaction. When subjected to biofilm assay, all tested tet(r)-marked deletion mutants were still able to produce biofilm, indicating the three genes are not involved in biofilm formation. These results suggest integration of Tn5-OT182 in genes not involved in biofilm production can render B. pseudomallei unable to produce biofilm by an unknown mechanism. This information demonstrates Tn5-OT182 is not a reliable tool for identifying genes involved in biofilm formation unless a confirmatory experiment is carried out in parallel.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biofilms*
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / genetics*
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / pathogenicity*
  • DNA Transposable Elements*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Genes, Bacterial / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mutagenesis
  • Transposases / genetics*
  • Virulence / genetics

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Tn5 transposase
  • Transposases