Transfer of plasmid RSF1010 by conjugation from Escherichia coli to Streptomyces lividans and Mycobacterium smegmatis.
The plasmid RSF1010 belongs to a class of plasmids (IncQ) that replicate in a range of bacterial hosts. Although non-self-transmissible, it can be mobilized at high frequency between different gram-negative bacterial species if transfer functions are supplied in trans. We report the transfer of RSF1010 by conjugation from Escherichia coli to the gram-positive actinomycetes Streptomyces lividans and Mycobacterium smegmatis. In its new hosts, the plasmid was stable with respect to structure and inheritance and conferred high-level resistance to streptomycin and sulfonamide. This is the first reported case of conjugative transfer of a naturally occurring plasmid between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.
Gormley
E P
EP
Unité de Genié Microbiologique, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Davies
J
J
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000235:genetics*; D011815:R Factors; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000235:genetics*; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology
D013449:Sulfonamides; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D013307:Streptomycin