Fig. 5. Conjugation efficiency groups by plasmid incompatibility.

Plasmids carrying β-lactamases from clinical E. coli pathogens were classified by Inc grouping and MOB relaxase families. To eliminate host effects, conjugation efficiencies were only measured using DA28102 transconjugants and the fAYC002 recipient. There is no significant difference among conjugation efficiencies when grouped by MOB relaxase (P = 0.291, ANOVA), whereas grouping by Inc is highly significant (P < 0.0001). Individual Inc groups that could not be distinguished from one another at P ≤ 0.05 are bracketed. Data were log transformed to normalize variation across orders of magnitude. Error bars represent ±SD from at least three replicates.