Thomas W D, Archer G L
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706.
Plasmid. 1992 Mar;27(2):164-8. doi: 10.1016/0147-619x(92)90017-5.
pC221, a small nonconjugative staphylococcal plasmid, can be mobilized between staphylococci by pG01, a larger conjugative plasmid. pC221 carries the two transacting genes, mobA and mobB, which are needed for its mobilization. The products of these genes create a site-specific single-stranded nick (mobA) and then facilitate DNA transfer (mobB). Several useful Escherichia coli-staphylococcal shuttle plasmids containing the cloned single-stranded nick site were created and successfully mobilized into Staphylococcus aureus and two coagulase-negative staphylococci, S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus, by providing mob genes (pC221) and conjugative transfer genes (pG01) in trans in the donor. These vectors may offer a genetic system for the introduction of recombinant plasmids into coagulase negative staphylococci.
