Isolation and characterization of a kanamycin resistance plasmid from Staphylococcus aureus

A circular covalently closed duplex deoxyribonucleic acid plasmid carrying genes for resistance to kanamycin/neomycin has been identified in Staphylococcus aureus E419. The plasmid has a molecular size of 9.2 x 10(6) daltons and can be transduced into or can transform competent susceptible strains of S. aureus to kanamycin/neomycin resistance.