[Plasmid transduction by Bacillus anthracis bacteriophage CP54].

Possibility of plasmid transduction in Bacillus anthracis vaccine strains Sterne and STI-1 by bacteriophage CP54ant having an increased ability of adsorbtion and a shortened period of latent development in Bacillus anthracis cells has been isolated. The main parameters of plasmid transduction by the bacteriophage have been established for the plasmid pTG141 (TcR). They include the effect of multiplicity of infection, the level of UV-inactivation of bacteriophage, the presence of antiphage serum in the incubation medium. Plasmid transduction by the mutant phage CP54ant was found to be more efficient as compared with the one by the parent phage. The isolated transductants served as donors of the transduced plasmid for Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus thuringiensis strains.