[Virulence of rifampicin and quinolone resistant mutants of strains of plague microbe with Fra+ and Fra- phenotypes].

Experiments with 15 highly virulent antigenically typical strains (Fra+) and 3 fraction-free strains (Fra-) of the plague microbe were conducted. It was demonstrated that a single exposure of the plague microbe to rifampicin or nalidixic acid (100 micrograms/ml) resulted in the formation of mutants (Rifr or Nalr) resistant to the drugs. The mutation frequency was 10(-10)-10(-8).