database connection within modifier function

Hello again ;o) how would one relate to an existing database connection (PEAR::MDB2) within a plugin or modifier function? The database connection is included as 'standard_db.inc.php' in 'standard.php' which finally displays the template containing the plugin. Is there a way of directly relating to the global variable $mdb2 within a modifier-function or would I have - to fetch 'standard_db.inc.php', - define $mdb2 as constant (using $smarty.const), - use config file, - assign it to smarty or even - open a new database connection? in modifier.get_supplier.php: function smarty_modifier_get_supplier($params) { ... $supplier = & $mdb2->queryCol($req); ... } Thanks in advance, Peggy