Role of R-plasmids in adherence and hydrophobicity in Escherichia coli.

Twenty-five R-plasmids from different incompatibility groups were conjugatively transferred to the laboratory strain Escherichia coli JE2571 and the variations in surface hydrophobicity and adherence to human buccal epithelial cells were investigated. It was found that some R-plasmids produce significant variations in adherence and/or hydrophobicity but that these variations show no quantitative or qualitative correlation.