Fig. 3: Donor serotype influences conjugation efficiency.

A Log₁₀-transformed conjugation efficiency (CE) relative to the associated Δcps mutant (by subtraction of the log₁₀-transformed value) by capsule serotype of the donor. Points represent the mean of independent triplicates after transformation and subtraction, with colours and shapes corresponding to strains and plasmids in Fig. 2A. Solid line at y = 0 represents the conjugation efficiency of Δcps mutant. All four serotypes are associated with significantly lower conjugation efficiencies than the Δcps mutants (Pairwise Wilcoxon (two-sided), all p < 0.001), but not when considering pKPN4 individually (all p > 0.05). Individual biological replicates are presented in Supplementary Figs. S4 and S5. B Log₁₀-transformed conjugation efficiency between pairs of donors and recipients with similar or different serotypes. Points represent mean conjugation efficiencies (n = 4 biologically independent experiments), colours indicate different plasmids (as in Figs. 2 and 3) and shapes correspond to distinct pairs. Conjugation is not more efficient between donor and recipient expressing the same serotype, paired Wilcoxon test (two-sided), p = 0.9. C Networks of plasmid transfer between capsule states. Data drawn from the K. pneumoniae to K. pneumoniae assays. Nodes represents distinct serotypes, and Δcps mutants. Edges thickness represents the mean conjugation efficiency for all pairs. Edges are coloured according to the donor, indicating the direction of transfer. Source data are provided as a Source Data file 4 (Conjugation from K. pneumoniae) and Source Data file 5 (Conjugation within serotype). ***p < 0.001; ns p > 0.05.