Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi
09:01

Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi

Published on: September 28, 2022

Transformation of Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Roderick F Felsheim1, Michael J Herron, Curtis M Nelson

  • 1Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. felsh001@umn.edu

BMC Biotechnology
|November 2, 2006
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Researchers developed a method to genetically modify Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a tick-borne pathogen. This breakthrough enables new research into fastidious intracellular bacteria and tick-borne diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pathogen Research
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Tick-borne pathogens like Anaplasma phagocytophilum are emerging zoonotic threats.
  • Their obligate intracellular nature has historically prevented genetic manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a genetic manipulation system for Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
  • To enable future research into the biology and pathogenesis of this fastidious bacterium.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Himar1 transposase system for genetic transformation.
  • Introduced a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene.
  • Selected transformed bacteria using spectinomycin.

Main Results:

  • Successfully generated fluorescently tagged Anaplasma phagocytophilum (GFP/Ap).
  • Transformed bacteria exhibited normal growth rates and fluorescence in various cell cultures.
  • Confirmed successful genetic modification and integration in mice models.

Conclusions:

  • The developed system allows for genetic modification of Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
  • This facilitates further study of tick-borne pathogens and their interactions.
  • The transformed bacteria are viable and infectious in animal models.

More Related Videos

Tractable Mammalian Cell Infections with Protozoan-primed Bacteria13:54

Tractable Mammalian Cell Infections with Protozoan-primed Bacteria

Published on: April 2, 2013

Natural Transformation, Protein Expression, and Cryoconservation of the Filamentous Cyanobacterium Phormidium lacuna11:47

Natural Transformation, Protein Expression, and Cryoconservation of the Filamentous Cyanobacterium Phormidium lacuna

Published on: February 1, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Transformation01:33

Bacterial Transformation

In 1928, bacteriologist Frederick Griffith worked on a vaccine for pneumonia, which is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Griffith studied two pneumonia strains in mice: one pathogenic and one non-pathogenic. Only the pathogenic strain killed host mice.Griffith made an unexpected discovery when he killed the pathogenic strain and mixed its remains with the live, non-pathogenic strain. Not only did the mixture kill host mice, but it also contained living pathogenic bacteria that...
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
Transformation01:26

Transformation

Microbial communities are dynamic environments where cell lysis releases free DNA into the surroundings. Other cells can take up this extracellular DNA through a process known as transformation.When a cell incorporates this foreign DNA into its genome, resulting in genetic modification, the process is known as transformation. Cells capable of this process are termed competent. Competence can be natural, as observed in certain bacteria and archaea, or artificially induced in the...
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the lytic replication...
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae01:29

Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae

The phylum Chlamydiae or Chlamydiota is composed of a single order, Chlamydiales. This phylum consists entirely of obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic hosts. While human pathogens within this group have been studied extensively, the phylum encompasses many species capable of interacting with various eukaryotic organisms. Members of Chlamydiae are typically small cocci, approximately 0.5 μm in diameter, and exhibit a distinctive developmental cycle. As is characteristic of...