Open AccessDistribution of virulence genes of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from stable nasal carriers
Author(s) -
Nashev Dimitar,
Toshkova Katia,
Salasia S.Isrina O.,
Hassan Abdulwahed A.,
Lämmler Christoph,
Zschöck Michael
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsle.2004.01.032
Subject(s) - staphylococcus aureus , biology , virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , genotype , gene , polymerase chain reaction , staphylococcal infections , virology , genetics , bacteria
In the present study, we report data on virulence determinants of Staphylococcus aureus from stable nasal carriers, emphasizing on the genes encoding fibronectin ( fnbA , fnbB ) and collagen ( cna ) adhesive molecules. Of the 44 S. aureus isolates included, 32 isolates (16 pairs) were cultured from the anterior nares of 16 healthy carriers, eight isolates (four pairs) were collected from the nose of four patients with recurrent skin infections and four isolates were obtained from the infection site of these patients. The period between the two nasal swabs taken was 3–5 days. The persistency of carriage could be demonstrated by the indistinguishable genotypic chracteristics of the S. aureus isolates in each pair. This could be shown by determination of gene polymorphisms of coa gene and the X‐region and IgG‐binding region encoding segments of spa gene. In addition, the isolates within the pairs showed identical toxin patterns. This was determined by PCR amplification of the genes encoding staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEA to SEJ) and TSST‐1. The genotypic properties also yielded an identity between persistent nasal carriage isolates and the corresponding skin infection isolates of the four patients. In addition, all S. aureus nasal and skin infection isolates were positive for gene fnbA , fnbB and cna could be found with a high frequency. Among the 44 isolates investigated, 16 isolates (36.7%) harbored gene fnbB and 21 isolates (47.7%) gene cna . The data in the present study showed a relatively wide distribution of the genes fnb and cna among the investigated isolates, indicating that the persistent carriage of strains harboring these virulence determinants may increase the risk for subsequent invasive infections in carriers.