Open AccessPossible virulence factors of Staphylococcus sciuri
Author(s) -
Stepanović Srdjan,
Vuković Dragana,
Trajković Vladimir,
Samardžić Tanja,
Ćupić Maja,
ŠvabićVlahović Milena
Publication year - 2001
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 - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2001.tb10649.x
Subject(s) - virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , virulence factor , hemolysin , biology , biofilm , bacteria , pathogen , nitric oxide , biochemistry , gene , genetics , endocrinology
Staphylococcus sciuri is an opportunistic pathogen of controversial clinical significance. The factors that contribute to colonization and/or infection caused by this bacterium have not been studied intensively so far. The present research was carried out in order to study the presence of potential virulence factors in 121 human and animal isolates of this bacterium. Isolates were examined for biofilm formation, hemagglutination, presence of clumping factor, production of spreading factors and exotoxins, cytotoxicity and capacity to stimulate nitric oxide production. The results showed that S. sciuri is highly capable of biofilm production, that it displays strong proteolytic and DNase activities, produces hemolysins and stimulates nitric oxide production by rat macrophages. Although the present study showed existence of a wide spectrum of possible virulence determinants of S. sciuri , their exact contribution to virulence of this bacterium in vivo remains to be determined.