Open AccessDetection of Staphylococcus lugdunensis by a new species‐specific PCR based on the fbl gene
Author(s) -
Pereira Eliezer M.,
Oliveira Fred L.F.,
Schuenck Ricardo P.,
Zoletti Gustavo O.,
Dos Santos Kátia R.N.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2009.00626.x
Subject(s) - staphylococcus lugdunensis , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , virulence , coagulase , staphylococcus aureus , pathogen , polymerase chain reaction , staphylococcal infections , staphylococcus , gene , virology , genetics , bacteria
Staphylococcus lugdunensis are unusually virulent coagulase‐negative staphylococci associated with skin infections and endocarditis. We developed an accurate and simple PCR assay to identify S. lugdunensis isolates based on detection of the fbl gene, which encodes a fibrinogen‐binding protein involved in pathogen adhesion. The PCR assay was established using 16 reference strains of different Staphylococcus species and further validated with a collection of 63 clinical staphylococcal isolates that were also phenotypically characterized. Reliable results for the detection of S. lugdunensis isolates were obtained for 100% of the strains evaluated, indicating that this PCR assay can be used in the routine of microbiology laboratories as one more tool for correct species differentiation.