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Laboratory strains of Bacillus subtilis do not exhibit swarming motility.

ABSTRACT: We redemonstrate that SwrA is essential for swarming motility in Bacillus subtilis, and we reassert that laboratory strains of B. subtilis do not swarm. Additionally, we find that a number of other genes, previously reported to be required for swarming in laboratory strains, are dispensable for robust swarming motility in an undomesticated strain. We attribute discrepancies in the literature to a lack of reproducible standard experimental conditions, selection for spontaneous swarming suppressors, inadvertent genetic linkage to swarming mutations, and auxotrophy.

SUBMITTER: Patrick JE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2772471 | biostudies-other | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Laboratory strains of Bacillus subtilis do not exhibit swarming motility.

Patrick Joyce E JE Kearns Daniel B DB

Journal of bacteriology 20090911 22

We redemonstrate that SwrA is essential for swarming motility in Bacillus subtilis, and we reassert that laboratory strains of B. subtilis do not swarm. Additionally, we find that a number of other genes, previously reported to be required for swarming in laboratory strains, are dispensable for robust swarming motility in an undomesticated strain. We attribute discrepancies in the literature to a lack of reproducible standard experimental conditions, selection for spontaneous swarming suppressor ...[more]

PMID: 19749039

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