Journal of Bacteriology, September 1998, p. 4350-4359, Vol. 180, No. 17
0021-9193/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

andSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
Received 5 May 1998/Accepted 16 June 1998
The 46.4-kb nucleotide sequence of pSK41, a prototypical
multiresistance plasmid from Staphylococcus aureus, has
been determined, representing the first completely sequenced
conjugative plasmid from a gram-positive organism. Analysis of the
sequence has enabled the identification of the probable replication,
maintenance, and transfer functions of the plasmid and has provided
insights into the evolution of a clinically significant group of
plasmids. The basis of deletions commonly associated with pSK41 family
plasmids has been investigated, as has the observed insertion site
specificity of Tn552-like
-lactamase transposons within
them. Several of the resistance determinants carried by pSK41-like
plasmids were found to be located on up to four smaller cointegrated
plasmids. pSK41 and related plasmids appear to represent a
consolidation of antimicrobial resistance functions, collected by a
preexisting conjugative plasmid via transposon insertion and
IS257-mediated cointegrative capture of other plasmids.
Present address: Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of
Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hadyai
90112, Thailand.
Present address: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine,
Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
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