Insertion into the Mycobacterium smegmatis genome of the aph gene through lysogenization with the temperate mycobacteriophage Ms6

A derivative of the temperate mycobacteriophage Ms6 containing the aph gene from transposon Tn5 was constructed. In the transductants the aph gene was integrated in the bacterial genome. The aph gene is stably maintained in the absence of positive selection after more than 150 generations. The results presented in this report show that Ms6 can be used as a vehicle for the integration of foreign DNA into the Mycobacterium smegmatis genome.