Improvement of transformation efficiency in hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae using citric acid.

Transformation efficiency is very low in hypermucoviscous Kllebsiella pneumoniae owing to high amount of capsular polysaccharide. Here, we propose a method to improve the transformation in hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae using citric acid. An increased number of recovered transformants was observed in the strains cultured in the presence of citric acid. • Transformation in hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae strains have frequently resulted in very low efficiency of transformation, because of the high amount of capsular polysaccharides. • We show that electroporation method using citric acid for transforming hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae is efficient by reducing the amount of capsular polysaccharide. • The time constant value, an indicator of transformation efficiency was optimized when K. pneumoniae is treated citric acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]