TRANSFORMATION OF VIBRIO-VULNIFICUS BY ELECTROPORATION

Vibrio vulnificus is a pathogenic, estuarine bacterium associated with primary septicemia and severe wound infections. Previous studies have reported limited success in the introduction of plasmids into V vulni ficus by conjugation, and there have been no reports of successful ele ctroporation procedures. We report here on the introduction of recombi nant plasmids into four strains of V. vulnificus by electroporation. I n contrast to the complex medium that others have used for the electro poration of Vibrio cholerae, the efficiency of transformation of V. vu lnificus was greatly improved by the use of a defined growth medium co ntaining glucose. The addition of glycine betaine further enhanced tra nsformant yield.