PLASmid TAXonomic PCR (PlasTax-PCR), a Multiplex Relaxase MOB Typing to Assort Plasmids into Taxonomic Units.

Plasmids transmissible by conjugation are responsible for disseminating antibiotic-resistance genes, making plasmid detection relevant for pathogen tracking. We describe the use of a multiplex PCR method for the experimental identification of specific plasmid taxonomic units (PTUs) of transmissible plasmids. The PCR primers were designed to target conserved segments of the relaxase MOB gene of PTUs encoding adaptive traits for enterobacteria (antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and metabolism). In this way, PlasTax-PCR detects the presence of these plasmids and allows their direct assignation to a PTU.