GENETIC MANIPULATION OF CAMPYLOBACTER - EVALUATION OF NATURAL TRANSFORMATION AND ELECTROTRANSFORMATION

Two methods, natural transformation and electro-transformation, for th e introduction of DNA into nine strains of Campylobacter jejuni were c ompared. Both methods were successful with a limited number of strains . Natural transformation as efficient only for the introduction of C. jejuni chromosomal DNA, while electro-transformation was also applicab le for the introduction of Escherichia coli-derived vector DNA into at least one C. jejuni strain. The efficiency of DNA recombination after entry was determined using C. jejuni chromosomal DNA containing disru pted flagellin genes of C. jejuni or suicide vectors containing a port ion of these genes. In the latter case, DNA recombination occurred wit h as little as 200-bp homology present, indicating that only short hom ologous DNA segments are required.