Drug resistance plasmids in Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus reuteri

Abstract

Sixteen strains of L. reuteri and 20 strains of L. acidophilus were tested for resistance to 22 antibiotics by using commercially available sensitivity disks. Evidence suggesting linkage of these resistances to plasmids was obtained by curing experiments with acridine dyes and high growth temperatures. Examination of plasmid patterns by agarose gel electrophoresis provided further evidence of loss in plasmid DNA under curing conditions in some of the strains examined.