Evaluation of Resistance Transfer by Conjugation, in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Salmonella Species, on Solid Phase at Different Temperatures

Conjugation means transfer of genetic material via bacterial membranes. Fimbrial characters that are responsible for this transfer are coded by conjugative plasmids that multiply in the cytoplasm. This transfer efficiency may be different in solid, liquid phases or on membranes. Conjugation in some of the members of Enterobacteriaceae family is also temperature dependant. This study was carried out to determine the optimal temperature and donor-acceptor ratios for transconjugation in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Salmonella species which belong to Enterobacteriaceae family. Fifteen strains, five from each of these species that mentioned above, which were determined to be multiresistant, were introduced to standart recipient E. coli J53-2 in two different concentration [(a) donor:recipient ratio 4:1; and (b) donor:recipient ratio is 1:4] and three different temperatures 32°C, 37°C and 42°C. “Multivariate” analysis was done with “repeated measures one way ANOVA test” whereas “univariate” analysis was done with “Wicoxon Sign Rank” tests. The results of these two tests correlated well and the results were found to be statistically different. In conclusion, transconjugation on solid phase was found to be optimal for group (b) where the recipient:donor ratio was 4:1 and the temperature was 37°C