Constitutive Erythromycin Resistance Plasmid in Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

A plasmid with a molecular mass of 1.4 x 10(6) daltons has been identified in Staphylococcus aureus. This plasmid determines constitutive resistance to erythromycin and lincomycin and is the smallest naturally occurring element coding for antibiotic resistance in this species.