Schematic maps of plasmid pSMA, pSA, pSM, and pSF1 and growth rates of <i>Salmonella</i> harboring these plasmids.

<p>(<b>A</b>) pSMA was generated by deletion of <i>caf1</i> gene from pHF. (<b>B</b>) pSA was constructed by deletion of <i>caf1M</i> gene from pSMA. (<b>C</b>) pSM was created by deletion of <i>caf1A</i> gene from pSMA. (<b>D</b>) pSF1 was produced by cloning <i>caf1</i> gene from pF1 to pHF to replace the <i>caf1Mcaf1Acaf1</i> genes. The <i>caf1</i>(-), <i>caf1M</i>(-), and <i>caf1A</i>(-), respectively, indicate that the inner DNA sequences of gene <i>caf1</i>, <i>caf1M</i>, and <i>caf1A</i> were in-frame deleted. (<b>E, F</b>) Comparison of growth rates of P1-pSA, -pSM, -pSF1, and -pY. The bacterial growth rates were determined by measuring the OD₆₀₀ every half hour (<b>E</b>) or determining bacterial CFU every hour (<b>F</b>), and the statistical differences of the growth rates of these strains were calculated using the Tukey Kramer multiple comparisons test. No significant differences of growth rates were discerned among these four strains.