Abstract
The penicillinase plasmids, a series of extrachromosomal resistance factors in Staphylococcus aureus, were found to carry determinants of resistance to a series of inorganic ions as well as resistance to penicillin and, in some cases, erythromycin. Most of the ions involved were inhibitory but not lethal to the bacteria; the resistance markers conferred an increase in resistance by comparison with susceptible organisms of between 3- and 100-fold, depending on the ion involved. Separate genetic loci for resistance to arsenate, arsenite, lead, cadmium, mercuric, and bismuth ions were demonstrated. Resistance to antimony and resistance to zinc were also found but were not separated genetically from resistance to arsenite and cadmium, respectively. The ion resistance markers appeared to form a cluster on the plasmid, with no other known marker within it. Naturally occurring plasmids were observed that lacked one or more of these ion resistance markers, as well as penicillinase-negative strains that were resistant to one or more of the ions. The patterns of markers carried by these various strains may provide some understanding of the evolution of a plasmid linkage group.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Asheshov E. H. Chromosomal location of the genetic elements controlling penicillinase production in a strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Nature. 1966 May 21;210(5038):804–806. doi: 10.1038/210804a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- GINOZA H. S., PAINTER R. B. GENETIC RECOMBINATION BETWEEN THE RESISTANCE TRANSFER FACTOR AND THE CHROMOSOME OF ESCHIERICHIA COLI. J Bacteriol. 1964 Jun;87:1339–1345. doi: 10.1128/jb.87.6.1339-1345.1964. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MITSUHASHI S., MORIMURA M., KONO K., OSHIMA H. ELIMINATION OF DRUG RESISTANCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS BY TREATMENT WITH ACRIFLAVINE. J Bacteriol. 1963 Jul;86:162–164. doi: 10.1128/jb.86.1.162-164.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MOORE B. A new screen test and selective medium for the rapid detection of epidemic strains of Staph. aureus. Lancet. 1960 Aug 27;2(7148):453–458. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(60)91591-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- NOVICK R. P. ANALYSIS BY TRANSDUCTION OF MUTATIONS AFFECTING PENICILLINASE FORMATION IN STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS. J Gen Microbiol. 1963 Oct;33:121–136. doi: 10.1099/00221287-33-1-121. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- NOVICK R. P., RICHMOND M. H. NATURE AND INTERACTIONS OF THE GENETIC ELEMENTS GOVERNING PENICILLINASE SYNTHESIS IN STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS. J Bacteriol. 1965 Aug;90:467–480. doi: 10.1128/jb.90.2.467-480.1965. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Novick R. P. Penicillinase plasmids of Staphylococcus aureus. Fed Proc. 1967 Jan-Feb;26(1):29–38. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Poston S. M. Cellular location of the genes controlling penicillinase production and resistance to streptomycin and tetracycline in a strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Nature. 1966 May 21;210(5038):802–804. doi: 10.1038/210802a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- RICHMOND M. H., JOHN M. CO-TRANSDUCTION BY A STAPHYLOCOCCAL PHAGE OF THE GENES RESPONSIBLE FOR PENICILLINASE SYNTHESIS AND RESISTANCE TO MERCURY SALTS. Nature. 1964 Jun 27;202:1360–1361. doi: 10.1038/2021360a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Richmond M. H. A second regulatory region involved in penicillinase synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus. J Mol Biol. 1967 Jun 14;26(2):357–360. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(67)90305-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Smith D. H. R factors mediate resistance to mercury, nickel, and cobalt. Science. 1967 May 26;156(3778):1114–1116. doi: 10.1126/science.156.3778.1114. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WATANABE T. Infective heredity of multiple drug resistance in bacteria. Bacteriol Rev. 1963 Mar;27:87–115. doi: 10.1128/br.27.1.87-115.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]