Electrotransformation of Pseudomonas

The family Pseudomonadaceae incorporates a broad range of species that are common inhabitants of soil, fresh water, and marine environments, where they are active in organic matter mineralization. Some species can cause diseases of plants, with various host specificities, whereas others are important opportunistic human and animal pathogens. Many species are metabolically diverse, capable of utilizing a variety of organic compounds as the sole source of carbon and energy. The type species of this family is Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1 ). Pseudomonas species have previously been reported to be transformed genetically by conjugation, transfection, or chemical transformation. In addition, several investigators have described the electroporation of P. aeruginosa and P. putida (2 –5 ).