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A simple and rapid method for the elimination of R plasmids from enteric bacteria

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Abstract

A rapid, simple, and effective method for the curing of a wide range ofEscherichia coli antibiotic resistance plasmids is described. Treatment with acridine orange followed by growth in sublethal concentration of antibiotics and penicillin selection under such bacteriostatic conditions resulted in a curing efficiency of more than 98% in all cases tested. The method is equally applicable, with modifications, to other enteric bacteria such asKlebsiella pneumoniae. It is also equally applicable to nutritional markers for which toxic analogues exist, and to elimination of recombinant bacteriophages containing antibiotic resistance transposons.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, V8W 2Y2, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Juan M. Tomás & William W. Kay

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  1. Juan M. Tomás
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  2. William W. Kay
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Tomás, J.M., Kay, W.W. A simple and rapid method for the elimination of R plasmids from enteric bacteria. Current Microbiology 11, 155–157 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01567341

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