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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Lead resistance and sensitivity in Staphylococcus aureus
H S Levinson1, I Mahler, P Blackwelder
1Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02254, USA.
Abstract:
Five lead-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated. Plasmid-free lead-sensitive variants were obtained from the three plasmid-bearing strains. Lead-resistant strains tolerated an approximately 600 x higher Pb(NO3)2 concentration than lead-sensitive strains. Both types of strains initially bound lead, but only the resistant strains accumulated the metal as an intracellular lead-phosphate.
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