Genetic and genomic analyses reveal the most powerful mode of bacteriophage-mediated gene transfer, co-lateral transduction.

Genetic transduction is a major evolutionary force that underlies bacterial adaptation. Herewe report that the temperate bacteriophages of Staphylococcus aureus engage in co-lateraltransduction, which we propose to be the most powerful 5 and impactful mode of phagetransduction.