Developing an Electroporation Method for Transforming Streptomyces nymphaeiformis

Streptomyces species are notoriously difficult to transform. Streptomyces nymphaeiformis is no different, so a method of electroporation was used to attempt to transform the cells. Multiple growth stages were used in order to alter the degree of development of the cell wall. The procedure did not kill the cells, but the cells were not transformed. Due to the lack of transformation with S. nymphaeiformis, transformation was attempted on two other Streptomyces strains, S. lividans and S. coelicolor. Neither was successfully transformed to thiostrepton (tsr) resistance, nor did they grow on a plate lacking thiostrepton. One possibility for the lack of transformation and growth was flocculation of the cells in the broth after electroporation. The flocculation may have prevented the electric pulse from shocking all the cells or transferring the sample to the plate for selection was made more difficult. Finding a method to prevent flocculation may allow for successful transformation using an electroporation method