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In vitro studies on long‐term stability of R plasmids in Escherichia coli K12
Author(s) -
Böttcher Ingolf,
Stelzer Wolfgang
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of basic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.58
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1521-4028
pISSN - 0233-111X
DOI - 10.1002/jobm.3620291002
Subject(s) - plasmid , escherichia coli , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , antibiotic resistance , digestion (alchemy) , antibiotics , enterobacteriaceae , gram , restriction enzyme , genetics , bacteria , dna , chemistry , gene , chromatography
The maintenance and stability in an E. coli K12 host of environmental isolates of R plasmids encoding gentamicin resistance during multiple passages in antibiotic‐free and antibiotic‐containing broth were investigated in regard to the conferred resistance phenotypes and the respective Eco RI digestion patterns. Only two plasmids belonging to the Inc M group maintained stable endonuclease digestion patterns over a 15‐month period in both of the media applied. Other members of this group revealed a considerable variability in their Eco RI digestion patterns, but a stability in their resistance determinants. Two Inc M plasmids and an Inc K plasmid exhibited partial resistance loss under nonselective conditions. The complete segregation of resistance determinants from Inc OF plasmids resulted in a stably maintained cryptic core plasmid.