Characterization of a broad-host-range flagellum-dependent phage that mediates high-efficiency generalized transduction in, and between, Serratia and Pantoea.

A phage (PhiOT8) isolated on Serratia sp. ATCC 39006 was shown to be flagellum-dependent, and to mediate generalized transduction with high efficiency (up to 10(-4) transductants per p.f.u.). PhiOT8 was shown to have a broad host range because it also infected a strain of Pantoea agglomerans isolated from the rhizosphere. Transduction of plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance between the two bacterial genera was demonstrated, consistent with purported ecological roles of phages in dissemination of genes between bacterial genera. Serratia sp. ATCC 39006 and P. agglomerans produce a number of interesting secondary metabolites that have potential applications in cancer therapy and biocontrol of fungal infections. PhiOT8 has utility as a powerful functional genomics tool in these bacteria.

Disruption of the copper efflux pump (CopA) of Serratia marcescens ATCC 274 pleiotropically affects copper sensitivity and production of the tripyrrole secondary metabolite, prodigiosin.

The prodigiosin biosynthetic gene cluster (pig cluster) of Serratia marcescens ATCC 274 (Sma 274) is flanked by cueR/copA homologues. Inactivation of the copA homologue resulted in an increased sensitivity to copper, confirming that CopA is involved in copper homeostasis in Sma 274. The effect of copper on the biosynthesis of prodigiosin in Sma 274 and the copA mutant strain was investigated. Increased levels of copper were found to reduce prodigiosin production in the wild type Sma 274, but increase production in the copA mutant strain. The physiological implications for CopA mediated prodigiosin production are discussed. We also demonstrate that the gene products of pigB-pigE of Sma 274 are sufficient for the biosynthesis of 2-methyl-3-n-amyl-pyrrole and condensation with 4-methoxy-2,2'-bipyrrole-5-carboxyaldehyde to form prodigiosin, as we have shown for Serratia sp. ATCC 39006.