Differentiation Of Bacillus subtilis strains.

[kaja]

I was just wondering if anyone could please tell me the difference between the bacterial strains below as ive been having major difficulties finding anything anywhere.
Bacillus subtilis:
1. PY79 spo+
2. SC1988 spoVM::spc
3. SC2376 gerD.cwlB::neo

Many thanks, kaja.

[blcr11]

The first is a standard lab strain of B subtilis completely competent for sporulation (spo+). The other two have transposon insertions inactivating, in each case, a different gene involved in sporulation: spoVM or gerD. The gerD interruption has been modified to confer neomycin resistance. Usually, only yeast and fungi form spores. B. subtilis is one of the few bacteria that sporulate. Wander around papers from Rich Losick’s group and you’ll probably find all these genes described somewhere.

[kaja]

Thanks so much- really was great help. Kaja.

[blcr11]

Just occurred to me that "spc" may stand for spectinomycin. Maybe the spoVM insertion has also been modified for antibiotic resistence as well? Would have to check that to be sure.

[kaja]

thanks- yep checked out the resistance thing and does seem to be the case. it also seems that similarly the gerD.cwlB::neo strain has been modified to confer neomycin resistance. Thanks again kaja