Suicidal genetic elements and their use in biological containment of bacteria

The potential risks of unintentional releases of genetically modified organisms, and the lack of predictable behavior of these in the environment, are the subject of considerable concern. This concern is accentuated in connection with the next phase of gene technology comprising deliberate releases....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of microbiology 1993, Vol.47 (1), p.139-166
Main Authors: MOLIN, S, BOE, L, JENSEN, L. B, KRISTENSEN, C. S, GIVSKOV, M, RAMOS, J. L, BEJ, A. K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
Bacteria - genetics
Bacteria - growth & development
Bacterial infections
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Biotechnology
Care and treatment
Containment
Containment of Biohazards
Environment and pollution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genes, Bacterial
Genes, Lethal
Genetic engineering
Genetically engineered organisms behavior (microorganisms, plants, animals)
Genetically modified organisms
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
Microbial genetic engineering
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Summary:The potential risks of unintentional releases of genetically modified organisms, and the lack of predictable behavior of these in the environment, are the subject of considerable concern. This concern is accentuated in connection with the next phase of gene technology comprising deliberate releases. The possibilities of reducing such potential risks and increasing the predictability of the organisms are discussed for genetically engineered bacteria. Different approaches towards designing disabled strains without seriously reducing their beneficial effects are presented. Principally two types of strain design are discussed: actively contained bacteria based on the introduction of controlled suicide systems, and passively contained strains based on genetic interference with their survival under environmental-stress conditions.
ISSN:0066-4227
1545-3251
DOI:10.1146/annurev.mi.47.100193.001035