Maintenance of broad-host-range incompatibility group P and group Q plasmids and transposition of Tn5 in Bartonella henselae following conjugal plasmid transfer from Escherichia coli.

The first demonstration of conjugal plasmid transfer from Escherichia coli to Bartonella henselae is reported. Transconjugants bearing plasmids of incompatibility groups P (IncP) and Q (IncQ), expressing various resistance markers, were generated. Tn5 transposons delivered on suicide plasmids by conjugation showed transpositional insertion into random chromosomal sites.