A series of cloning vectors has been constructed from pACYC177 and pACYC184. These vectors contain a MCS, the lacZ alpha reporter gene, and P15A ori. Plasmids pMBL18, pMBL19 and pMBLcos express the bla gene encoding ampicillin resistance, while pMCL200 and pMCL210 contain the cat gene encoding chloramphenicol resistance. In addition, the cosmid pMBLcos was constructed with the P15A ori. These vectors are useful for cloning or subcloning genes which are unstable and/or toxic in high-copy-number vectors.