Complete nucleotide sequences of plasmids pACK2 and pACK5 from Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus

Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus contains five plasmids, designated pACK1–pACK5. Recently, the nucleotide sequences of three of these plasmids, pACK1, pACK3, and pACK4, were reported. In order to complete the characterization of these five plasmids, the nucleotide sequences of the two remaining plasmids, pACK2 (37683 bp) and pACK5 (3191 bp), were determined. pACK5 is comprised of two regions, one with 85% identity at the nucleotide level to a region of pWBG1773 and another region with an ORF that shares no significant similarity to sequences previously described in GenBank. pACK2 encodes proteins for cadmium resistance and enhanced biofilm formation. The similarities at the nucleotide level among regions of the plasmids of S. simulans bv. staphylolyticus suggest that these plasmids have undergone multiple intermolecular rearrangements.

► Sequence analysis of the previously uncharacterized plasmids pACK2 and pACK5. ► pACK5 is similar to the S. aureus cationic biocide resistance plasmid pWBG1773. ► pACK2 encodes a putative biofilm-associated protein and cadmium resistance operon. ► S. staphylolyticus plasmids have undergone multiple intermolecular rearrangements.