Conjugative Transfer of RP4-oriTShuttle Vectors fromEscherichia colitoClostridium perfringens

A chromosomally integrated copy of the IncP plasmid RP4 was shown to mediate the conjugative transfer of shuttle plasmids containing anoriTsite fromEscherichia colito the anaerobic pathogenClostridium perfringens.Two versatile shuttle plasmids, pJIR1456 and pJIR1457, which will be invaluable for the introduction of cloned genes intoC. perfringens,were constructed.