Analysis of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid in a cariogenic strain of Streptococcus faecalis: an approach to identifying genetic determinants on cryptic plasmids

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Abstract
S. faecalis strains ND539 and OG1 were previously shown to be cariogenic in gnotobiotic animals. DNA analyses revealed the presence of a single 26-Mdalton plasmid designated pAM539 in the former strain, but the latter strain was plasmid-free. By gene transfer experiments isogenic pairs of strains that differed only in the presence or absence of pAM539 were constructed. Comparative studies of isogenic pairs showed that the presence of pAM539 conferred bacterial sensitivity to a bacteriocin produced by S. faecalis strain 5952.