resistance plasmids

re·sis·tance plas·mids

plasmids carrying genes responsible for antibiotic (or antibacterial drug) resistance among bacteria (notably Enterobacteriaceae); they may be conjugative or nonconjugative, the former possessing transfer genes (resistance transfer factor), which are lacking in the latter. Synonym(s): R factors, R plasmids, resistance factors, resistance-transferring episomes

re·sis·tance plas·mids

(rĕ-zis'tăns plaz'midz) Plasmids carrying genes responsible for antibiotic (or antibacterial drug) resistance among bacteria (notably Enterobacteriaceae); they may be conjugative or nonconjugative, the former possessing transfer genes (resistance transfer factor) lacking in the latter.