Genetic Tractable Microbes
Genetic Tractable Microbes - Related Videos
11:42
Genetic Manipulation of the Plant Pathogen Ustilago maydis to Study Fungal Biology and Plant Microbe Interactions
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Cited by 32 •
2016
We describe a robust gene replacement strategy to genetically manipulate the smut fungus Ustilago maydis. This protocol explains how to generate deletion mutants to investigate infection phenotypes. It can be extended to modify genes in any desired way, e.g., by adding a sequence encoding a fluorescent protein tag.
13:54
Tractable Mammalian Cell Infections with Protozoan-primed Bacteria
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Cited by 2 •
2013
This technique provides a method to harvest, normalize and quantify intracellular growth of bacterial pathogens that are pre-cultivated in natural protozoan host cells prior to infections of mammalian cells. This method can be modified to accommodate a wide variety of host cells for the priming stage as well as target cell types.
15:27
Extracting DNA from the Gut Microbes of the Termite (Zootermopsis Angusticollis) and Visualizing Gut Microbes
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Cited by 18 •
2007
This video illustrates the technique for extracting DNA from the species of microbes resident in the termite hindgut. The preparation of a wet mount slide, which is useful for visualizing the gut microbial community is also illustrated, and a tour through the species-rich gut environment is given.
01:26
Microbes and Methanogenesis
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2026
Methanogenesis is a critical microbial process in anaerobic ecosystems responsible for the biological production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and valuable biofuel. This metabolic pathway is primarily facilitated by methanogenic archaea, which thrive in anoxic environments such as wetlands, sediments, and animal gastrointestinal tracts. The absence of oxygen in these habitats prevents aerobic respiration, thereby favoring alternative biochemical pathways for organic matter degradation.In...
10:04
An Overview of Genetic Analysis
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2023
An organism’s physical traits, or phenotype, are a product of its genotype, which is the combination of alleles (gene variants) inherited from its parents. To varying degrees, genes interact with each other and environmental factors to generate traits. The distribution of alleles and traits within a population is influenced by a number of factors, including natural selection, migration, and random genetic drift.In this video, JoVE introduces some of the foundational discoveries in genetics,...
FAQs
DNA delivery introduces genetic material into microbial cells, while selectable markers help identify cells that carry the intended genetic change. Homologous recombination or CRISPR-based editing can then produce targeted modifications to specific genes. Together, these tools create a practical chain from introducing DNA to isolating altered cells and evaluating how the change affects cellular traits.
Selectable markers make it possible to distinguish cells that received or incorporated introduced genetic material from those that did not. This is especially important when only a subset of cells undergoes the intended change. By enabling researchers to recover modified cells before analyzing them under defined conditions, markers support more reliable connections between a genetic alteration and its phenotype.
Both approaches enable targeted changes to microbial genes, but they represent distinct genetic tools for carrying out those modifications. Homologous recombination supports directed genome changes through matching DNA sequences, whereas CRISPR-based editing provides another route for targeting selected genetic locations. Choosing between them depends on the organism and the experimental goal, including how precisely gene function must be evaluated.
A tractable microbe allows researchers to alter a gene, grow the organism under defined conditions, and examine the resulting characteristics. Comparing modified cells with appropriate unmodified cells can reveal whether a gene influences regulation, metabolism, host-microbe interactions, or another biological property. This experimental link between genotype and phenotype makes microbial systems useful for testing gene function.
A typical workflow begins by selecting a microbial system that can be grown reliably and modified with available genetic tools. Researchers introduce DNA, use a selectable marker to recover candidate modified cells, and apply homologous recombination or CRISPR-based editing when a targeted change is needed. They then analyze the resulting organisms under defined conditions to evaluate the phenotype.
These organisms are useful when a study requires controlled genetic changes alongside reproducible growth and analysis. They support investigations of gene function, gene regulation, metabolism, host-microbe interactions, and evolution. Because researchers can modify and evaluate the same microbial system experimentally, bacteria, yeasts, and other suitable organisms help address questions that link genetic variation with biological outcomes.
In biotechnology, tractable microbes serve as platforms for engineering biological pathways and evaluating the products or functions those pathways generate. Their genetic tools allow researchers to introduce targeted changes and assess outcomes under defined conditions. This supports development of useful products and engineered pathways, while the same systems can provide biological insight into how altered genes affect microbial performance.