Competence-Induced DNA Uptake in <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

Source: Cafini, F., et.al. Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus. J. Vis. Exp. (2017)This video demonstrates competence-induced DNA uptake in Staphylococcus aureus through natural transformation. A chloramphenicol-sensitive strain engineered to constitutively express a sigma factor is cultured under nutrient-limiting conditions to enhance competence, then incubated with donor DNA carrying a resistance gene. Successful gene transfer is confirmed by the selective growth of chloramphenicol-resistant transformants.