Method capable of increasing competency of bacterial cell transformation

Abstract

The invention concerns bacterial strains capable of enhanced transformation efficiencies that are produced by the introduction of the F′ genetic material. The invention also concerns processes for producing transformable competent bacteria with enhanced transformation efficiencies.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bacterium containing F′ genetic material capable of an enhanced transformation efficiency.  
     
     
         2 . The bacterium according to  claim 1 , wherein said bacterium is an Enterobacteriacae.  
     
     
         3 . The bacterium according to  claim 2 , wherein said bacterium is of the genus Escherichia.  
     
     
         4 . The bacterium according to  claim 3 , wherein said bacterium is an  Escherichia coli  ( E. coli ).  
     
     
         5 . The  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 4 , wherein said bacterium is DH5 α or a derivative thereof or an equivalent thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 5 , wherein said bacterium is DH5α.  
     
     
         7 . The  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 4 , wherein said bacterium contains an F′ plasmid.  
     
     
         8 . The  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 4 , wherein said bacterium contains F′ genetic material integrated in the bacterium's genome.  
     
     
         9 . The  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 5 , wherein said bacterium contains an F′ plasmid.  
     
     
         10 . The  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 5 , wherein said bacterium contains F′ genetic material integrated in the bacterium.  
     
     
         11 . The  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 4 , further comprising exogenous DNA that replicates independently of the bacterial chromosome.  
     
     
         12 . The  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 11 , further comprising plasmid DNA.  
     
     
         13 . The  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 10 , further comprising lambda DNA.  
     
     
         14 . The  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 4 , wherein the F′ genetic material is derived from the F′ genetic material of XL1-Blue.  
     
     
         15 . An  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 4 , wherein the F′ genetic material is derived from the F′ genetic material of XL2-Blue.  
     
     
         16 . A process for producing a bacterium capable of an enhanced transformation efficiency, comprising the following steps: 
 (a) introducing F′ genetic material into a bacterium;    (b) selecting said bacterium containing said F′ genetic material; and    (c) recovering said bacterium containing F′ genetic material.    
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein said bacterium is is of the genus Escherichia.  
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein said bacterium is an  Escherichia coli  ( E. coli ).  
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 18 , wherein said bacterium is DH5α or a derivative thereof or an equivalent thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 19 , wherein said bacterium is DH5α.  
     
     
         21 . A process for preparing competent bacteria comprising the following steps: 
 (a) growing a bacterium containing F′ genetic material capable of an enhanced transformation efficiency in a growth-conductive medium; and    (b) rendering said bacterium competent.    
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 21 , wherein said bacterium is of the genus Escherichia.  
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 22 , wherein said bacterium is an  Escherichia coli  ( E. coli ).  
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said bacterium is DH5α or a derivative thereof or an equivalent thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The process according to  claim 24 , wherein said bacterium is DH5α.  
     
     
         26 . A preparation of competent bacteria, wherein said preparation is produced by the process comprising: 
 (a) growing a bacterium containing F′ genetic material capable of an enhanced transformation efficiency in a growth-conductive medium; and    (b) rendering said bacterium competent.    
     
     
         27 . The preparation according to  claim 26 , wherein said bacterium is of the genus Escherichia.  
     
     
         28 . The preparation according to  claim 27 , wherein said bacterium is an  Escherichia coli  ( E. coli ).  
     
     
         29 . The preparation according to  claim 28 , wherein said bacterium is DH5α or a derivative thereof or an equivalent thereof.  
     
     
         30 . The preparation according to  claim 29 , wherein said bacterium is DH5α.