Thompson H A, Suhan M L
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506-9177, USA.
FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1996 Dec 1;145(2):139-46. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1996.tb08569.x.
Those organisms considered to be obligate intracellular bacteria are interesting objects for genetic studies. Little is known about their mechanisms for natural genetic exchange. Many genes from the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, an obligate intraphagolysosomal pathogen, have therefore been cloned and characterized using the heterologous host Escherichia coli. Recently, use of electroporation methodology followed by long-term selection periods have provided initial data on genetic transformation in C. burnetii.
