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Updated: May 16, 2026

Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: March 10, 2017
Biofilm as an environment for dissemination of stx genes by transduction
H T Solheim1, C Sekse, A M Urdahl
1Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract:
Dissemination of Shiga toxin (Stx)-encoding bacteriophages is the most likely mechanism for the spread of Stx-encoding genes and the emergence of new Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Biofilm has been reported to be a place where horizontal gene transfer by plasmid conjugation and DNA transformation may occur, and in this study, horizontal gene transfer by transduction has been demonstrated. Transfer of Stx-encoding bacteriophages to potentially pathogenic E. coli in biofilm was observed at both 20°C and 37°C. The infection rates were higher at 37°C than at 20°C. To our knowledge, this study is the first to show lateral gene transfer in biofilm mediated by a temperate bacteriophage. The study shows that the biofilm environment can be suitable for transduction events and can thereby be an environment for the emergence of new pathogenic E. coli.
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