Relationships between cotransducible plasmids in Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Contransduction [by phage 80 .mu..alpha.] of 2 or even 3 plasmids were observed when a S. aureus strain, carrying 5 distinct, compatible plasmids, was used as donor. An active host recombination system did not seem to be indispensable for plasmid cotransduction, since RecA+ and RecA- donors gave similar cotransduction frequencies. Analysis of plasmids carried by cotransductant clones demonstrated that a genetic interaction can take place between cotransduced plasmids, leading to new plasmids. Some of the properties of these new plasmids are discussed. Another set of experiments tested the ability of a cotransducible plasmid at restrictive temperature. A working hypothesis suggesting a transient and reversible association of cotransducible plasmids is presented.