Plasmid determined resistance to tellurium compounds

Abstract

Trnasferable plasmids in gram negative bacteria that confer resistance to potassium tellurite or tellurate were found. This resistance was distinct from resistance to mercury, silver or arsenic compounds and was related to antibiotic resistance. In Escherichia coli, plasmids determine a 100 fold increase in the minimal inhibitory concentration for tellurite and a 10 fold increase in tellurate resistance. Many, but not all, of the plasmids belong to incompatibility group S. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, tellurium resistance is specifically associated with incompatibility group P 2 and involves a 5 to 10 fold increase in tellurite or tellurate resistance.