Generalized transduction between Salmonella typhi and Salmonella typhimurium by phage j2 and characterization of the j2 plasmid in Escherichia coli.

Phage j2, a P1-like phage in Salmonella typhi, was heteroimmune to phage P1 and existed in the lysogenic state as a plasmid of molecular size 58.6 MDal. The phage j2 plasmid was incompatible with the P1 plasmid (IncY group). A j2-sensitive mutant of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 was isolated by transduction of j2Ap phage into LT2 followed by curing of the prophage. The mutant was used to demonstrate transduction between S. typhi and S. typhimurium by phage j2.