Variations in plasmid transfer in <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> : insights from epigenetics, strain properties, and experimental conditions

; however, plasmid transfer protocols remain inconsistent and strain-dependent. By assessing electroporation and conjugation across diverse strains, we identify key experimental and genomic factors, such as test and strain differences, including restriction-modification systems and epigenetic signatures, that influence plasmid uptake. These findings offer practical guidance for optimizing plasmid transfer protocols and highlight strain-level barriers that impact resistance gene dissemination in this critical microorganism.