Molecular analysis of a mobilizable theta-mode trimethoprim resistance plasmid from coagulase-negative staphylococci.

The Staphylococcus epidermidis plasmid pSK639 is the prototype of a newly described family of small plasmids identified in clinical staphylococcal isolates. pSK639 is 8 kb in length and possesses a composite structure consisting of an IS257-flanked segment mediating trimethoprim resistance (Tpr), and regions responsible for replication and mobilization of the plasmid. Comparative sequence analysis suggests that a pSK639-like plasmid may represent a progenitor of previously identified staphylococcal Tpr determinants related to the transposon-like structure, Tn4003. In contrast to the small staphylococcal plasmids characterized to date that all utilize a rolling circle mode of replication, the replication region of pSK639 was found to contain features typical of an iteron-controlled theta-mode replicon. pSK639 is the first small plasmid of this type to be identified in the staphylococci.