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. 1990 Feb;34(2):302–305. doi: 10.1128/aac.34.2.302

Molecular epidemiology of beta-lactamase-producing enterococci.

J E Patterson 1, A Wanger 1, K K Zscheck 1, M J Zervos 1, B E Murray 1
PMCID: PMC171577  PMID: 2109577

Abstract

Plasmids from the first six reported beta-lactamase-producing (Bla+) enterococci were compared for genetic relatedness. Bla+ enterococcal plasmids from strains isolated in Houston, Tex.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Connecticut; and Pittsburgh, Pa., had heterogeneous HaeIII and MspI-ClaI restriction endonuclease digestion patterns. A staphylococcal beta-lactamase probe hybridized to all six Bla+ enterococcal plasmids, but hybridization was detected on different HaeIII and MspI-ClaI fragments of the six plasmids. An enterococcal gentamicin resistance (Gmr) probe hybridized to a common 3.9-kilobase HaeIII fragment from the five Gmr plasmids. The Houston plasmid was cross-hybridized to the other five strains, and moderate to extensive homology was demonstrated. Bla+ enterococcal plasmids from a broad geographic range are heterogeneous with respect to size and restriction endonuclease digestion patterns but contain homologous genetic material, including Bla+ and Gmr determinants.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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