Phage - Mediated Transfer Of Genetic Material

ABSTRACT

Ten phages were isolated randomly from sewage sources and

disposal points on the University of Ghana,Legon campus, purified and

characterised as delivery systems for the resistance marker genes,

Strr and Benr. The phages were found to have proteins of relative

molecular weights ranging from 9,000 - 100,000. Eight phages were

found to be morphologically related to the tailed phages. The other

two were tailless phages. All the coliphages isolated were

morphologically related to the T-even phages, whilst Sf RBCL 15 and

Sd RBCL 5 were related to the P-phages. The tailless phages were

found to be morphologically related to the p phages (06 and 0X174

phages). The coliphages were found to be closely related to each

other. They did exhibit some detectable cross reactivity to Sd RBCL

5, Sd RBCL 2 3 and Sf RBCL 15. The coliphages were not related to the

S. tvphi phages.

Selected pathogenic bacteria from the Noguchi Memorial Institute

for Medical Research and the Medical School of the university of

Ghana were screened for the presence of the antibiotic resistance

gene marker. All the bacteria, except three, were found to be highly

resistant to the marker antibiotics used : Salmonella Group D was

relatively more sensitive to all three antibiotics ; Staphylococcus

aureus was sensitive to Benzylpenicillin and Salmonella typhi was

sensitive to Tetracycline.

The isolated phages with the exception of St RBCL 2 0 exhibited

the ability to transduce the resistance marker genes from one

bacterium to sensitive bacteria at a high frequency.