2011 Volume 74 Issue 2 Pages 66-77
Recent studies have revealed that Actinomyces spp. plays an important role as an initial colonizer in dental plaque formation. However, only a few systems for genetic engineering have been available in Actinomyces spp. In this study, we determined whole sequences of pJRD215, the wide host-range conjugative vector, and evaluated its transformation efficiency in several Actinomyces spp. pJRD215 was transformed with high efficiency to Actinomyces oris strain MG-1, and with low efficiency to Actinomyces viscosus strain ATCC 27044, Actinomyces naeslundii strain ATCC 27039 and Actinomyces naeslundii strain ATCC 51655. We then cloned either a thiostrepton resistant gene or a trimethoprim resistant gene into the downstream of the kanamycin resistant gene in pJRD215. The transformants could express functional thiostrepton resistance or trimethoprim resistance, respectively. We were able to demonstrate the availability of pJRD215 as an efficient expression vector in Actinomyces spp.
