Sensitivity of Vibrio cholerae to the lethal and mutagenic effects of UV-irradiation mediated by the presence of plasmids

The effect of UV-irradiation on Vibrio cholerae cells and its changes mediated by the plasmid R245 have been studied. Vibrio cholerae strains 569B and RV31 have been shown to be considerably more sensitive to lethal effect of UV-irradiation as compared with Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium cells. Highly toxigenic strain 569B and practically atoxigenic strain RV31 have the same UV-sensitivity. Lethal effect of UV-irradiation on Vibrio cholerae cells is increased when the irradiated cells are plated on enriched media. UV-induction of mutations was not registered in plasmidless strains of Vibrio cholerae. Plasmid R245 increases UV-resistance of vibrio cells and makes them UV-mutable.