R plasmids are conjugative plasmids coding for mating pair formation and also multiple antibiotic resistance. A conjugative plasmid is self-transmissible, in that it possesses all the necessary genes for that plasmid to transmit itself to another bacterium by conjugation. Conjugation genes known as tra genes enable the bacterium to form a mating pair with another organism, while oriT (origin of transfer) genes determine where on the plasmid DNA transfer is initiated. The plasmid also possess genes coding for resistance to a number of different antibiotics.

Flash animation illustrating the Transfer of Conjugative Plasmids and Multiple Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria Via R Plasmids.swf by Gary E. Kaiser, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology, The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://faculty.ccbcmd.edu/~gkaiser/index.html.

Last updated: August, 2018
Please send comments and inquiries to Dr. Gary Kaiser