Plasmid composition of Staphylococcus species

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Abstract
A total of 342 staphylococci representing 13 different recognized species were screened for plasmid composition using agarose gel electrophoresis techniques. Plasmids of MW 30 .times. 106, or larger, in size were uncommon in staphylococci. Moderately large plasmids of MW 15 .times. 106-29 .times. 106 were not, or only occasionally, found in the species S. sciuri, S. intermedius, S. hyicus or S. simulans; they were, however, common in S. aureus (55%) and members of the S. epidermidis (79%) and S. saprophyticus (86%) species groups. Small plasmids were common in most of the species. They produced more complex profiles in simian subspecies or biotypes than in human subspecies or biotypes, e.g., in the species S. warneri, S. haemolyticus, S. cohnii, S. xylosus and S. aureus. Although some of the species appeared to have unique plasmid patterns, this feature is not currently useful as a taxonomic character, in considering the occurrence of exceptional strains and in possible plasmid transfer between species.