Plasmids identified in this study.

Abbreviations: RFLP, restriction fragment length polymorphism; ST, sequence type; NI, not identified.
aPlasmid type RFLP_12 (Rep17.2/pRUM-like + Rep2/pRE25/pEF1 + Rel6/pEF1) contains a partial sequence of the replication gene of the RCR plasmid pEFNP1 (GenBank accession number AB038522), suggesting the integration of this RCR plasmid on the mobile element carrying Tn1546 involving truncation of the rep14/pRI1/pEFNP1.
bPlasmid types RFLP_3, _4, _5, _6 and _13 (Rep17.2/pRUM-like + Rel6/pEF1 and eventually containing Rep1/pIP501, Rep2/pRE25/pEF1 or TAInc18) shared common bands and were identified in the same or different clonal backgrounds in different cities for extended periods of time.
cPlasmids types RFLP 8, _9 and _10 also shared a variable number of common bands.
dPlasmids showing patterns related to RFLP_27 (75–85 kb; rep9/pAD1 + rel5/pAD1 + rep1/pIP501 + parpAD1 and/or rep2/pRE25/pEF1) initially recovered from the widespread ST6-CC2 Efs clone in Coimbra in 1996 and other Efs (ST55 and ST159) and Efm clones contained similar ISEf1-Tn1546 variants (PP-2a, PP-4, PP-9). Other highly related mosaic Inc18-pAD1-related plasmids carrying IS1216-Tn1546 were recovered from ST6 VREfs and ST80 VREfm isolates (type ˝IIEfs ˝, rep9/pAD1 +rel5/pAD1 + parpAD1 + rep2/pRE25/pEF1versus type ˝IIEfm ˝, rep9/pAD1 + rep2/pRE25/pEF1).

缩写说明：RFLP（限制性片段长度多态性，restriction fragment length polymorphism）；ST（序列型，sequence type）；NI（未鉴定，not identified）。
a 质粒型别RFLP_12（Rep17.2/pRUM样 + Rep2/pRE25/pEF1 + Rel6/pEF1）包含滚环复制（rolling-circle replication, RCR）质粒pEFNP1（GenBank登录号AB038522）的复制基因部分序列，提示该RCR质粒整合至携带Tn1546的移动元件中，该整合过程伴随rep14/pRI1/pEFNP1的截短。
b 质粒型别RFLP_3、_4、_5、_6及_13（携带Rep17.2/pRUM样与Rel6/pEF1，且可额外包含Rep1/pIP501、Rep2/pRE25/pEF1或TAInc18）共享共有条带，且在不同城市的相同或不同克隆背景中长期被检出。
c 质粒型别RFLP_8、_9及_10同样共享数量不等的共有条带。
d 呈现与RFLP_27相关图谱的质粒（片段大小75~85 kb；携带rep9/pAD1 + rel5/pAD1 + rep1/pIP501 + parpAD1及/或rep2/pRE25/pEF1），于1996年首先从葡萄牙科英布拉地区广泛流行的ST6-CC2粪肠球菌（Enterococcus faecalis, Efs）克隆中分离得到；其余Efs克隆（ST55与ST159）及屎肠球菌（Enterococcus faecium, Efm）克隆也携带相似的ISEf1-Tn1546变异体（PP-2a、PP-4、PP-9）。另有一批与上述质粒高度同源的嵌合型Inc18-pAD1相关质粒（携带IS1216-Tn1546元件），从ST6型万古霉素耐药粪肠球菌（Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, VREfs）与ST80型万古霉素耐药屎肠球菌（Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, VREfm）分离株中分离得到：前者为IIEfs型（rep9/pAD1 + rel5/pAD1 + parpAD1 + rep2/pRE25/pEF1），后者为IIEfm型（rep9/pAD1 + rep2/pRE25/pEF1）。