A new vector, pGID052, for genetic transfer in Oenococcus oeni

Abstract Despite the large number of techniques available for the transformation of bacteria, several species are still resistant to the introduction of foreign DNA. Oenococcus oeni are among the organisms that are particularly refractory to transformation. However, conjugal experiments from Lactococcus lactis to O. oeni with a new plasmid, pGID052, were performed via mobilization with success. This plasmid, a derivative of pORI19, encompasses: (i) the oriT of pIP501, which permitted the transfer to O. oeni, (ii) the replication genes of a native Leuconostoc citreum plasmid. Frequencies of 10−7 conjugants per recipient were found. The transfer did not affect the structure of this low-copy-number plasmid. Moreover, pGID052 seems segregationally stable and could be used in the future as an expression vector.