Bacterial strains, plasmids, and oligonucleotides used in this study are described in Table 1 . E. coli, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis were routinely cultured at 37°C in L broth (1% tryptone, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.5% NaCl), Trypticase soy broth (TSB) (Difco) or brain heart infusion broth (BHI) (Difco). For growth on agar, L broth or brain heart infusion broth was solidified with 1.5% agar, yielding LBA and BHIA, respectively. The following antibiotics and concentrations were used: chloramphenicol (Cm), 10 µg/ml; kanamycin, 50 µg/ml; erythromycin (Em), 25 µg/ml; and carbenicillin, 100 µg/ml (Sigma).
Oligonucleotides and DNA sequencing were purchased from IDT. Restriction enzymes and LigaFAST T4 DNA ligase were purchased from NEB and Promega, respectively. High-fidelity PCR was performed with KOD Hotstart DNA polymerase (Novagen) or Phusion DNA polymerase (Finnzymes) on genomic DNA isolated with the Genelute bacterial genomic DNA kit (Sigma). Plasmids and PCR products were purified using WizardPlus kits (Promega). To isolate plasmid DNA from S. aureus, a 10-ml overnight culture was treated with 100 µg lysostaphin (Ambi Products, New York) in P1 buffer for 30 min at room temperature and then processed as recommended by the manufacturer (GeneJET plamsid miniprep kit; Fermentas).
For colony PCR, a small amount of colonial growth was touched to the side of a PCR tube and microwaved for 5 min at 800 W. The tube was placed on ice, Phire Hotstart II master mix (Finnzymes) was added to the PCR tube, and thermocycling conditions were conducted as recommended by the manufacturer.
Oligonucleotides and DNA sequencing were purchased from IDT. Restriction enzymes and LigaFAST T4 DNA ligase were purchased from NEB and Promega, respectively. High-fidelity PCR was performed with KOD Hotstart DNA polymerase (Novagen) or Phusion DNA polymerase (Finnzymes) on genomic DNA isolated with the Genelute bacterial genomic DNA kit (Sigma). Plasmids and PCR products were purified using WizardPlus kits (Promega). To isolate plasmid DNA from S. aureus, a 10-ml overnight culture was treated with 100 µg lysostaphin (Ambi Products, New York) in P1 buffer for 30 min at room temperature and then processed as recommended by the manufacturer (GeneJET plamsid miniprep kit; Fermentas).
For colony PCR, a small amount of colonial growth was touched to the side of a PCR tube and microwaved for 5 min at 800 W. The tube was placed on ice, Phire Hotstart II master mix (Finnzymes) was added to the PCR tube, and thermocycling conditions were conducted as recommended by the manufacturer.