Competition Study between the Genetically Engineered Cyanobacteria Synechocystis Pcc 6803 and Thermosynechococcus Elongatus Bp1 and their Respective Wild Type Cyanobacteria Strain

Competition Study between the Genetically Engineered Cyanobacteria Synechocystis Pcc 6803 and Thermosynechococcus Elongatus Bp1 and their Respective Wild Type Cyanobacteria Strain

College

College of Sciences

Program

Ph.D. Chemistry

Publication Date

3-28-2019

Abstract

The growth of genetically engineered or GE cyanobacteria may pose a risk if the transformant escapes to the environment. This study was conducted with two GE cyanobacteria containing the YFP-RLipase- Tetracycline DNA construct; the GE Synechocystis PCC 6803 or 6803-YFP and the GE Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP1 BY20. The construct contains a nitrate promoter gene, a lipase gene as well as a tetracycline antibiotic resistance gene. In an attempt to simulate the behavior of a possible escape of the GE cyanobacteria into the environment, we conducted a competition study. The purpose was to determine whether the GE cyanobacteria would outcompete, co-exist or lose ground to the wild type cyanobacteria. Briefly, a growth study was conducted by co-culturing wild type cyanobacteria with the GE cyanobacteria in medium supplemented with nitrate. Microscopy cell counting and cell plating on solid medium with tetracycline antibiotic were used to monitor the cells in the co-culture over time. Starting with a known initial ratio of the wild type versus the GE strain, the cultures shown that the ratio was maintained throughout the 4-week incubation time. The preliminary results therefore suggest that the GE cyanobacteria strains harvested in our lab do not have a competitive advantage compared to the wild type strain.

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Competition Study between the Genetically Engineered Cyanobacteria Synechocystis Pcc 6803 and Thermosynechococcus Elongatus Bp1 and their Respective Wild Type Cyanobacteria Strain


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