Genetic Transformation Among Living Pneumococci in the Mouse

Ottolenghi, Elena; MacLeod, Colin M.

doi:10.1073/pnas.50.3.417

Cited by 26 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…As his approach involves the use of large amounts of heat-killed donors, it relies on artificial conditions and is not useful as a method for studying gene transfer in vivo. However, a few pioneering studies from the 1960s have demonstrated the occurrence of transformation during mixed pneumococcal infection in mice and man (Ottolenghi & MacLeod, 1963;Conant & Sawyer, 1967;Ottolenghi-Nightingale, 1969, 1972. In mice, transformation was shown to take place even when living donor and recipient cells were injected at different sites or 6 h apart.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulation of natural genetic transformation and acquisition of transforming DNA inStreptococcus pneumoniae

Johnsborg¹,

Håvarstein²

2009

FEMS Microbiol Rev

128

122

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The ability of pneumococci to take up naked DNA from the environment and permanently incorporate the DNA into their genome by recombination has been exploited as a valuable research tool for 80 years. From being viewed as a marginal phenomenon, it has become increasingly clear that horizontal gene transfer by natural transformation is a powerful mechanism for generating genetic diversity, and that it has the potential to cause severe problems for future treatment of pneumococcal disease. This process constitutes a highly efficient mechanism for spreading beta-lactam resistance determinants between streptococcal strains and species, and also threatens to undermine the effect of pneumococcal vaccines. Fortunately, great progress has been made during recent decades to elucidate the mechanism behind natural transformation at a molecular level. Increased insight into these matters will be important for future development of therapeutic strategies and countermeasures aimed at reducing the spread of hazardous traits. In this review, we focus on recent developments in our understanding of competence regulation, DNA acquisition and the role of natural transformation in the dissemination of virulence and beta-lactam resistance determinants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulation of natural genetic transformation and acquisition of transforming DNA inStreptococcus pneumoniae

Johnsborg¹,

Håvarstein²

2009

FEMS Microbiol Rev

128

122

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show abstract

“…Both pneumococci and streptococci are frequently abundant in the upper respiratory tract of man, and these organisms are capable of both intra-and inter-species exchange of genetic determinants of virulence and antibiotic susceptibility (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). Therefore, the natural setting exists in both health and disease for transformation to occur.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pneumococci. The parental strains of pneumococci were kindly provided by Dr. Elena Ottolenghi; their derivation and properties have been described in detail (6),and pertinent characteristics are summarized in Table I.…”

Section: __ __mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Studies of Cellular Defense Against Infection. 1. Transformation During Mixed Pneumococcal Infection of Mice. 2. Antiphagocytic Effect of Influenza Virus on Leukocytes

Sawyer¹

1967

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“…Spontaneous transformation of S. pneumoniae strains has usually been reported to occur at extremely low frequencies in vivo [2,4]. Spontaneous transformation of S. pneumoniae strains has usually been reported to occur at extremely low frequencies in vivo [2,4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%