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.

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 Enterobacteriaceae. 
     
     
         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 DH5α or a derivative thereof or an equivalent thereof. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The  E. coli  bacterium according to  claim 4 , further comprising exogenous DNA that replicates independently of the bacterial chromosome. 
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 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 - 30 . (canceled)