MUTANT STRAINS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI, A METHOD OF TESTING POTENTIAL ANTIBACTERIAL AGENTS USING SAID STRAINS AS WELL AS A TESTING KIT

摘要

The subject of the present invention are mutant strains of Escherichia coli MG6165 (ATCC nr 47076) lacking all potassium transporters: Kdp, Kup and Trk (ΔKtrans), encompassing strains lacking at least one of the genes encoding mechanically gated channels mscS and mscL (ΔKtransΔmscS i/lubΔmscL). In particular, it concerns Escherichia coli MG61655 (ATCC No. 47076) lacking all potassium transporters: Kdp, Kup and Trk (ΔKtrans), which additionally are devoid of the mechanically gated channel gene mscS—E. coli (ΔKtransΔmscS), the mechanically gated channel gene mscL—E. coli (ΔKtransΔmscL) and/or both the mechanically gated channel genes mscS and mscL—E. coli (ΔKtransΔmscSΔmscL). The subject of the present invention is also a method of testing chemical compounds for potential antibacterial properties, making use of the abovementioned strains. Another subject of the present invention is a kit for testing chemical compounds as potential antibacterial substances, containing the abovementioned strains.