Plasmid-determined resistance to arsenic and antimony inPseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract
Resistance to arsenic salts in aPseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolate was shown to be determined by a 100 kb transferable plasmid. The resistance pattern included arsenate, arsenite, and antimonate ions. Arsenate and arsenite resistances were inducible by previous exposure of cultures to subinhibitory amounts of either of the two ions. Phosphate ions protectedP. aeruginosa cells from the toxic effects of arsenate but did not alter arsenite toxicity.