PLASMID-MEDIATED, TRANSFERABLE RESISTANCE TO CLINDAMYCIN AND ERYTHROMYCIN IN BACTEROIDES-FRAGILIS

A clindamycin-and erythromycin-resistant strain of Bacteroides fragilis, TMP10, that had been isolated from a blood culture transferred its drug resistance in a Millipore mating procedure to another strain of B. fragilis, TM2000, and to a strain of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Donor strain TMP10 contained numerous species of extra-chromosomal DNA ranging from -2 X 106 to 20 X 106 daltons in molecular weight, as revealed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Clindamycin-and erythromycin-resistant transcipient cells of B. fragilis strain TM2000 always contained at least two plasmid species with molecular weights of 2 X 106 and 20 X 106 daltons, respectively, although other plasmid species were also transferred. © 1979 by The University of Chicago.