Complete plasmid sequences derived from various strains of Archaeoglobus profundus. Archaeoglobus profundus

Bacterial plasmids are self-replicating, extrachromosomal elements associated with a variety of phenotypic traits including virulence, enhanced fitness, and resistance to antimicrobial agents. They play an important role in the transfer of genetic material in microbial populations within and between the species. The study of mobile genetic elements such as plasmids is of particular interest because of their ecological, biological, and clinical significance. The Refseq collection of plasmids represent complete sequences derived from different bacterial strains and is organized by host organism at the species level.细菌质粒（plasmid）是一类可自我复制的染色体外遗传元件，与多种表型性状相关，包括致病性、适应性增强以及抗微生物药物耐药性。其在微生物种群内部及跨物种间的遗传物质传递过程中发挥关键作用。针对质粒这类移动遗传元件（mobile genetic element）的研究因其生态学、生物学及临床意义而备受关注。RefSeq质粒集收录了源自不同细菌菌株的完整序列，并按照宿主物种进行分类编排。