title: Plasmid profiles of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Peninsular Malaysia.
abstract: The plasmid profiles of 160 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Peninsular Malaysia, comprising 80 penicillinase-producing (PPNG) and 80 non-penicillinase-producing (non-PPNG) isolates, were determined. The 80 PPNG isolates were divided into two plasmid groups. All of them harbored two common plasmid species, a 4.4 megadalton (Md) R plasmid previously associated with beta-lactamase production in PPNG strains from the Far East and a 2.6 Md multicopy plasmid of unknown function. In addition to these two plasmids, 60 (75%) PPNG isolates also carried a large 24.5 Md conjugative plasmid. In contrast, the 80 non-PPNG strains were divided into three plasmid groups. All of them possessed the 2.6 Md cryptic plasmid, and 35 (44%) isolates also harbored the 24.5 Md transfer plasmid. Besides these two plasmids, one non-PPNG isolate carried an additional 7.8 Md cryptic plasmid.
mesh_terms: D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010405:Penicillinase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010957:Plasmids
chemical_list: D010405:Penicillinase