Plasmid and chloramphenicol production inStreptomyces venezuelae

A strain ofStreptomyces venezuelae described as having been cured of chloramphenicol production, was mutagenised with ultraviolet light and chloramphenicol-producing clones were obtained from the surviving population. Since this suggests that the supposed cured strain has not lost the genetic capacity of chloramphenicol synthesis, alternative explanations are offered.