Fig. 6: Analysis of phenotypes associated with deletion of orf32, ssb, orf33, excA, or repC genes.

a Conjugative transfer frequency after 150 min of mating for the wild-type (wt) (LY1844) and mutants, orf32 (LY4148) and complemented strain with pOrf32 plasmid (LY4192), ssb (LY4149), orf33 (LY4153), excA (LY3260), and repC (LY3259) and complemented strain with pRepC plasmid (LY3606). Recipient LY945. Data are represented as mean and SD from at least six independent experiments (gray circles). Comparisons test is indicated by ns (not significant), *(p = 0.0133), **(p = 0.0095). b Plasmid copy number (PCN) for each mutant and repC complemented strain (repC pRepC) from stationary phase culture. The ratio of the mutant PCN to the wild-type PCN is represented. Data are represented as mean and SD from (n) independent experiments (gray circles). Comparisons test is indicated by ns (not significant), *(p = 0.044) c Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of imipenem inhibiting the growth of the wild-type (wt), repC mutant, and repC complementated strain (repC pRepC). Data are represented as mean and SD from three independent experiments. Comparisons test is indicated by ns (not significant), *(p = 0.0463). d Histogram showing the exclusion levels of wild-type pOXA-48 transfer from donor to the recipients cells carrying wild-type pOXA-48 (wt), excA mutant with or without pExcA complementation plasmid. Data are represented as the mean and SD from (n) independent experiments (white circles). Comparisons test is indicated by ns (not significant), **(p = 0.0081). e PCN for excA mutant and complemented strain (excA pExcA) derived from colonies scratched from LB agar plates (solid). The ratio of the mutant PCN to the wild-type PCN are represented. Data are represented as mean and SD from seven independent experiments (gray circles). Comparison test is indicated by ns (not significant), **(p = 0.0011). f Conjugative transfer frequency after 60 min of mating for the wild-type (wt) and excA mutant, and complemented strain with pExcA derived from colonies scratched from LB agar plates (solid). Data are represented as mean and SD from (n) independent experiments (gray circles). Comparisons test is indicated by ns (not significant), ****(p < 0.0001). a–e p-value significance from the Kruskal-Wallis test corrected with Dunn’s multiple comparisons test.