ELECTROPORATION-MEDIATED TRANSFORMATION OF ARCANOBACTERIUM (ACTINOMYCES) PYOGENES

Plasmids derived from pNG2 or RSF1010 were introduced into strains of Arcanobacterium (Actinomyces) pyogenes by electroporation. Electropora tion conditions were varied systematically to give a maximum electropo ration frequency of 3.7 x 10(5) CFU/mu g DNA at 1.5 kV/cm and 246 Omeg a, resulting in a rime constant of approximately 10 ms. The A. pyogene s transformants expressed plasmid-encoded resistance to chloramphenico l, erythromycin, kanamycin, and streptomycin. The source of incoming D NA affected the growth rate of transformants, but not the electroporat ion efficiency. This is the first report of genetic transformation of the veterinary pathogen A. pyogenes. (C) 1997 Academic Press.