There are three major β-lactamase plasmid variants which are associated with specific lineages and carry distinct TEM alleles.

is a significant threat to global health with an estimated incidence of over 80 million cases each year and high levels of antimicrobial resistance. The gonococcal β-lactamase plasmid, p, carries the TEM β-lactamase, which requires only one or two amino acid changes to become an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL); this would render last resort treatments for gonorrhoea ineffective. Although p is not mobile, it can be transferred by the conjugative plasmid, pConj, found in .