| Abstract: | Polyethyleneglycol induced fusion of Bacillus cereus protoplasts and its genetic consequences have been investigated. The technique used allows the transfer of a small plasmid pBC16 between Bacillus cereus cells. Fusion has resulted in isolation of hybrid cells having acquired TcR phenotype (harbouring pBC16) with high frequencies (10(-2)-10(-3)). However, the genetic instability of hybrid cells and segregation effects have influenced dramatically the final results of plasmid transfer. Nevertheless, the fusion of protoplasts proves to be useful in construction of BAcillus cereus strains inheriting plasmid determinants. |
