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Analysis Of Plasmids Cloned From A Virulent Avian Escherichia Coli And Transformed Into Escherichia Coli Dh5Α, Richard E. Wooley, Penelope S. Gibbs, Harry W. Dickerson, John Brown, Lisa K. Nolan

Lisa K. Nolan

Three of four plasmids from a virulent wild-type avian Escherichia coli were cloned or transformed into an avirulent laboratory recipient E. coli DH5a and tested for the ability to confer a virulence phenotype. The three plasmids transformed into E. coli DH5a were 5, 6, and 56 kb. A fourth plasmid of 64 kb was not successfully transformed. Parameters used to measure virulence included presence of type 1 pili and a smooth lipopolysaccharide (LPS) layer, motility, production of Colicin V, resistance to host complement, and embryo lethality. The 5-kb plasmid encoded for ampicillin resistance, whereas the 6-kb plasmid encoded for tetracycline …