Plasmid transfer to Bordetella pertussis: conjugation and transformation

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Abstract
Plasmids of the P and W incompatibility groups were introduced into B. pertussis by conjugation. Plasmid DNA isolated from B. pertussis could be reintroduced by transformation. DNA isolated from Escherichia coli could not be introduced into B. pertussis by transformation if this DNA contained HindIII restriction sites. HindIII sites are modified by B. pertussis. Plasmids of the FI and FII incompatibility groups could not be introduced into B. pertussis by conjugation and nonconjugative plasmids of the ColE1 and Q incompatibility groups could not be introduced by transformation. The ability to introduce plasmids in the laboratory suggests that the apparent lack of plasmids in natural isolates of B. pertussis is not due to an inability to act as a plasmid recipient.