Transfer of heterologous SSOM-mCherry reporter in M. xanthus swarm requires TraA.

Nonmotile SSOM-mCherry donors (DW1411 or DW1412) were mixed 1∶3 with A-motile GFP labeled recipients (DW1414 or DW1416). After 1 day incubation on TPM agarose pad A-motile recipients readily swarm out from the inoculum spot. Column micrographs were of identical fields taken under phase contrast and GFP or mCherry fluorescence (20× objective). Indicated isogenic strains contain traA+ or traA::km alleles. In panels F and I arrows indicate nonmotile donor cells that were pushed or dragged to the swarm edge [6]. Table S2 lists strain genotypes.