Transformation with Bacteriocin Factors in Staphylococci

Summary: Transfer of bacteriocin factors from bacteriocinogenic to other staphylococci was observed at high frequency on the basis of paradoxical inhibition (p.i.) on two media (BTM and MPI). Colonies of non-bacteriocinogenic sensitive bacteria from the central growth of p.i. showed acquisition of bacteriocinogeny and bacteriocin resistance at high frequencies which was not lost in the course of 18 h. Acquired bacteriocinogeny was a stable character and had an overall frequency of 10-2 to 10-3 among different recipient populations. Conjugation, transduction and transfection processes could be excluded, and the gene transfer process was considered to be transformation with plasmid DNA.