Abstract:[Objective] We explored the role of mobile plasmids in transferring antimicrobial resistant genes in extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing Escherichia coli from a wastewater treatment plant. [Methods] Based on the conjugation experiments of ESBL-producing E. coli collected from wastewater, the disk diffusion assay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to determine the transfer of antimicrobial resistance. [Results] A total of 50 ESBL-producing E. coli were collected from 80 water samples (50/80, 62.5%), and successful conjugations were detected among 35 isolates (35/70, 70.0%). The results of PCR further showed that blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes were all capable of conjugation transfer, but the horizontal transfer of blaSHV gene was only detected in one isolate and resistance gene encoding fluoroquinolone was not capable of conjugation transfer in this study. [Conclusions] Plasmids carrying different antimicrobial resistant genes may exhibit different capacity of horizontal transfer. Importantly, the mobile plasmids played a very important role in the horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes of ESBL-producing E. coli.