RECIPIENT ABILITY OF SALMONELLA TYPHOSA IN GENETIC CROSSES WITH ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract

Johnson, E. M. (Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C.), Stanley Falkow, and L. S. Baron. Recipient ability of Salmonella typhosa in genetic crosses with Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 87:54-60. 1964.-Salmonella typhosa strain 643WS(r) was mated with Escherichia coli Hfr strains W1895 and Hayes, with single marker selection for the E. coli genes lac(+) (lactose utilization) and ara(+) (arabinose utilization). Four classes of Salmonella hybrids were obtained, each class possessing one marker derived from one E. coli parent. In a series of eight genetic crosses, in which each hybrid class was remated with each of the Hfr strains, recipient ability of the hybrids was increased only when their substituted E. coli genetic section matched the lead region of the Hfr chromosome. Data obtained from replica plating indicated that the S. typhosa 643WS(r) population is probably homogeneous with respect to its initial ability to mate with E. coli. Transfer of the F-lac element was found to occur only slightly less efficiently from an E. coli F' donor to S. typhosa than it did to an E. coli F(-) strain. This indicated that E. coli is able to conjugate almost as effectively with S. typhosa as it does intraspecifically. However, failure to detect beta-galactosidase production by merozygotes derived from an E. coli Hfr W1895 x S. typhosa mating indicated that transfer of chromosomal lac(+) may be impaired.