Transformation of a Mixed Probiotic Culture and Escherichia coli B with the Antibiotic Resistant Plasmid, pGLO

Raven M. Wright, Haley L. Thompson

Transformation of a Mixed Probiotic Culture and Escherichia coli B with the Antibiotic Resistant Plasmid, pGLO

Files

Wright_AS_2017_A.pdf (937.3 KB)

Date

2017

Authors

Raven M. Wright, Haley L. Thompson

Publisher

College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa

Abstract

Probiotics are microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract that have been shown to help with metabolic functions, immune responses, and in the prevention of pathogenic diseases. In this study, we sought to determine if the probiotic brand, Garden of Life, could acquire novel phenotypes through heat-shock transformation. We predicted that Garden of Life, along with Escherichia coli HB101 and Escherichia coli B would be able to grow on ampicillin enriched plates after transformation with the plasmid, pGLO, which contained the gene for beta-lactamase. During the study, all three bacterial cultures underwent heat shock transformation in the presence of pGLO. After transformation was complete, each new culture was plated on LB agar containing ampicillin and arabinose to determine whether antibiotic resistance and GFP expression were observed. The results showed that only Escherichia coli HB101 had successfully become antibiotic resistant. Our results demonstrate that the gram positive species in Garden of Life probiotics are not able to efficiently take up plasmid DNA using heat shock transformation and that the method appeared to have strain restrictions as well.

Description

Recommended citation: Wright, Raven M., and Haley L. Thompson. “Transformation of a Mixed Probiotic Culture and Escherichia Coli B with the Antibiotic Resistant Plasmid, PGLO.” Acta Spartae , 2017. https://doi.org/10.48497/EZ7F-NF70.

Keywords

Escherichia coli B, pGLO, E-coli, Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES, Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES::Biology, Department of Biology, Probiotics

Citation

Wright, Raven M., and Haley L. Thompson. “Transformation of a Mixed Probiotic Culture and Escherichia Coli B with the Antibiotic Resistant Plasmid, PGLO.” Acta Spartae , 2017. https://doi.org/10.48497/EZ7F-NF70.