Whole genome TraDIS-Xpress assay to determine gene roles during growth of E. coli in different concentrations of the beta-lactam antibiotic meropenem

The aim of the experiment was to assay every gene in the E. coli genome to identify those that contribute to increased or decreased susceptibility to the beta-lactam antibiotic meropenem. A library of transposon-insertion mutants was grown overnight in the presence or absence of a range of concentrations of meropenem. Different concentrations of IPTG were also used to promote expression from a transposon-encoded promoter to assay the effects of increased transcription for each gene. DNA sequencing was then used to reveal the locations of the transposons in every mutant. By comparing the numbers of each mutant between conditions, information can be gained about the relative fitness of that mutant under the conditions tested.