Plasmid "curing" by some recently synthetized 4-quinolone compounds.

Abstract

Nalidixic acid and two recently synthetized 4-quinolones eliminated F'lac and R-plasmids from E. coli at concentrations of one half or one quarter of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Two of the three plasmids tested were cured by all derivatives, although with different frequencies. Pefloxacin was the most effective compound compared with the other quinolones and nalidixic acid the least active.