Localized tufts of fibrils on Staphylococcus epidermidis NCTC 11047 are comprised of the accumulation-associated protein.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus epidermidis is both a human skin commensal and an opportunistic pathogen, causing infections linked to implanted medical devices. This paper describes localized tufts of fibrillar appendages on a subpopulation (25%) of wild-type (WT) S. epidermidis NCTC 11047 cells. The fibrils (122.2 +/- 10.8 nm long) are usually in a lateral position on the cells. Fibrillar (Fib(+)) and nonfibrillar (Fib(-)) subpopulations were separated (enriched) by 34 sequential partitions of WT cells between a buffer phase and a hexadecane phase. Following enrichment, hydrophobic cells from the hexadecane phase comprised 70% Fib(+) cells and the less hydrophobic cells from the buffer phase entirely comprised Fib(-) cells. The Fib(+) and Fib(-) subpopulations did not revert on subculture (34 times) on s

SUBMITTER: Banner MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1855787 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature