[Antibiotic resistance plasmids in various strains of Staphylococcus aureus]

Plasmids with the molecular weights of 1.6 to 21.0 MD were detected in Staphylococcus aureus. The plasmids determined resistance to benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, streptomycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, arsenate and arsenite. Strain p16 of Staphylococcus aureus contained plasmid pL16 with the molecular weight of 18.0 MD determining resistance to erythromycin, streptomycin, benzylpenicillin and ampicillin. The plasmid has two replication sites and is likely a natural recombinant of two plasmids.