Chromatic bacteria version 2 - A Himar1 transposon based delivery vector to extend the host range of a toolbox to fluorescently tag bacteria

Abstract

A recent publication described the construction and utility of a comprehensive "Chromatic Bacteria" toolbox containing a set of genetic tools that allows for fluorescently tagging a variety of Proteobacteria. In an effort to expand the range of bacteria taggable with the Chromatic Bacteria toolbox, a Himar1 transposon vector was constructed to mediate insertion of fluorescent protein and abiotic resistant genes. The Himar1 transposon was chosen as it is known to function in a wide range of bacteria. To test the use of the Himar1 derivative of the Chromatic Bacteria plasmid series for fluorescently tagging bacteria, recently isolated non-model organisms were conjugated with the Himar1 transposon plasmids. We were unsuccessful in delivering the plasmids into Gram positive bacterial isolates but were able to successfully integrate the transposon in isolates that we were previously unable to modify such as Sphingomonas sp. Leaf357 and Acidovorax sp. Leaf84. This manuscript reports on the currently available plasmids and transposition success in different bacteria. The manuscript will be updated regularly until a full plasmid series is available and a large range of recipient strains was tested.