Thesis--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1984. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-220).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1984. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction: R factor mediated transfer of antibiotic resistance between Enterobacteriaceae has been reported to occur in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract (Farrar et al, 1972; Guinée, 1970; Kasuya, 1964; Reed et al, 1969; Wiedemann et al, 1970). In vivo conjugal transfer of genetic material has also been demonstrated with F¹, F⁺ and Hfr Escherichia coli strains (Jones & Curtiss, 1970). The environment in the lower gastrointestinal tract, where bacteria are abundant, is mainly anaerobic. This is demonstrated by the dominance of obligately anaerobic bacteria such as Bacteroides species (Finegold, 1969; Moore et al, 1969) and direct studies of intestinal gas composition (Askevold, 1956). However, most laboratory investigations of the incidence of R factors and their transfer frequencies have been performed under aerobic conditions using faecal facultative strains. The only investigation of resistance transfer under anaerobic conditions in vitro is that of Mitsuhashi (1965), who reported complete inhibition of transfer of an R factor from a Shigella flexneri donor to an Escherichia coli recipient. In addition, Fisher (1957) reported restriction of chromosomal transfer by an E. coli Hfr strain under anaerobic conditions in various media. On the basis of these results, it could be questioned whether in vivo R factor transfer is in fact possible (Chabbert et al, 1969). The contradictory situation prompted a reexamination of conjugation in facultative strains under anaerobic conditions. Both Fisher (1957) and Mitsuhashi (1965) obtained anaerobic conditions by evacuation. In this investigation, both mating and selection of recombinants were performed under stringent anaerobic conditions using methods developed for the isolation of obligate anaerobes (Hungate, 1969) to obtain a degree of anaerobiosis similar to that found in vivo.

Thesis. 1977. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Biology. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Includes bibliographical references. / Ph.D.

The resistance transfer factor R45 from Escherichia coli confers inducible arsenate and arsenite resistance in that bacterium. The genes for these resistances were cloned into the EcoRl - Sphl multiple cloning site of PGEM3 Blue vector (Promega) to produce a 4.9 kilobase plasmid, pJC1. This recombinant plasmid, pJC1, conferred IPTG induced resistance to arsenite and arsenate. In addition, pJCl was tested for homology with the E. coli plasmid R773, which encodes for arsenic resistance in that bacterium as well. Through DNA-DNA hybridization the arsenic resistance determinants of R45 and R773 were compared. Under stringent hybridization conditions, R45 demonstrated DNA sequence homology to the ArsB and Ars C genes of R773 but not to the ArsA gene of R773.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Indiana University School of Dentistry, 1998. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Indiana University School of Dentistry, 1998. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

The trivalent (arsenite) and pentavalent (arsenate) forms of arsenic are introduced into the environment through the use of arsenic in herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and the smelting of arsenic-bearing ores. Bacteria resistant to arsenic are readily isolated from surface waters, sewage, and clinical infections. Although some bacterial resistance is provided by inducible phosphate transport systems that discriminate against arsenate, marked resistance is carried on bacterial plasmids. A 6.9 kilobase fragment previously derived from one such plasmid, R45, and containing the genes for inducible resistance to arsenite and arsenate was ligated into the cloning vectors puce and pUC9 in opposite orientations and transformed into Escherichia coli JM 105. Insertion into the multiple cloning site of the pUC vectors places the inserted fragment under the inducible control of the lac operon promoter. An attempt was made to determine the direction of transcription in the fragment by growth in 10-3 M isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside prior to challenge with arsenite.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [67]-81).