Table 3 Bacterial strains and plasmids used in this study

E. colistrains

S17.1

Tp^R Sm^R, recA, thi, pro, hsdR^-M⁺ RP4: 2-Tc:Mu: Km Tn7 λ pir

[30]

Brucella strains

B. abortus RB51

Rif^R, rough mutant of 2308

[31]

B. melitensis 16M-N

Spontaneous Nal^R mutant of ATCC 23456

This study

B. ovis BOC 22

Rough field strain, CO₂ dependent

This study

B. pinnipedialis B2/94

Brucella marine strain isolated from common seal, CO₂ dependent

[32]

Plasmids

pGBG1

Cm^R, transposon trap derivative of pBBR-MCS1

[20]