Cover photograph: The three pillars of horizontal gene transfer of ARGs. (1) Conjugation. ARG-carrying plasmids with self-transmissibility are transferred from donor cells to recipient cells upon cell-to-cell contact. As a result, identical plasmids are ultimately present in both donor and recipient cells. (2) Transformation. DNA fragments carrying ARGs, released upon donor cell death, are taken up by recipient cells and integrated into their chromosomes via homologous recombination. (3-1) Specialized transduction. Phage particles containing structural genes and accessory ARGs are released from donor cells and attach to recipient cells. The phage structural genes and accessory ARGs are then injected into the recipient cells, and they are subsequently integrated into the recipient's chromosome. (3-2) Generalized transduction. Phage particles containing host cell DNA, including ARGs, are released from donor cells and attach to recipient cells. The donor-derived genes including ARGs are then injected into the recipient cells and subsequently integrated into the recipient's chromosome. Microbiol Immunol: 69:367-376. Article link here