Based on Plasmid-encoded traits, plasmid can be classified into following categories:
- Conjugative Plasmids: Facilitate the transfer of genetic material between bacteria through conjugation.
- Resistance (R) Plasmids: Carry genes that confer resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents, helping bacteria survive in hostile environments.
- Virulence Plasmids: Enhance bacterial pathogenicity by encoding factors that contribute to disease causation.
- Metabolic Plasmids: Provide genes that allow bacteria to metabolize unusual substrates, improving their adaptability to diverse environments.
- Bacteriocin Plasmids: Encode bacteriocins, which are proteins that inhibit the growth of closely related bacterial strains, providing a competitive edge to the host.
- Maintenance Plasmids: Play a crucial role in the maintenance and replication of plasmids within bacterial populations, ensuring their persistence. E.g., IncF
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