Open AccessCointegrate formation between plasmids carrying virulence factor and antibiotic resistance genes in E. coli
Author(s) -
Shipley Patricia L.,
Allen Alfred D.,
Swanson Thomas N.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1983.tb00149.x
Subject(s) - plasmid , enterotoxigenic escherichia coli , fimbria , virulence , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , genetics , gene , kanamycin , virulence factor , enterotoxin
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains which cause diarrhea in young pigs often possess the proteinaceous surface antigen, K88. The genetic determinants for production of K88 fimbriae and utilization of raffinose (Raf) are located on non‐conjugative plasmids. We have examined some parameters of cointegrate formation between one of these plasmids, pPS900, and pPS030, a conjugative R factor. Cointegrate formation appears to be RecA‐independent and to involve specific regions of both plasmids. Cointegrates are unstable, breaking down to form plasmid species indistinguishable from pPS030 and pPS900. Stable cointegrates have undergone a deletion which often includes all or part of the region of pPS900 encoding K88 antigen production.