Identification of a new transposon Tn 5403 in a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain isolated from a polluted aquatic environment

Abstract

A Klebsiella pneumoniae strain having mobilization "helper" potential has been isolated from the river Rhine. Analysis of the transconjugants resulting from the mobilization of nonconjugative pBR-type plasmids and RSF1010 derivatives showed that the transfer-helper capacity of the K. pneumoniae strain is related to the presence of a Tn 3-like transposable element, Tn 5403. This element has been identified and localized in a plasmid. © 1994 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.