[Characteristics and classification of plasmids of conditionally pathogenic E. coli according to their conjugative and mobilization capacity].

A number of conjugative plasmids of opportunistic E. coli with molecular weights of 23.6--81.8 megadaltons have been studied. On the basis of the data thus obtained conjugative F-like R-plastmids have been subdivided into 2 groups characterized by the unsuppressed or suppressed manifestation of their functions. Individual conjugative plasmids have been found to differ in their capacity for mobilizing non-conjugative SuSm plasmid for transfer, which indicates the possibility of using this test for characterization and classification of plasmids, identified in natural bacterial population.