Staphylococcus aureus agr genotypes with enterotoxin production capabilities can resist neutrophil bactericidal activity.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity is mainly due to the production of a number of secreted and cell surface-associated proteins under the regulation of the agr gene. A region of the agr gene was used to subgroup S. aureus strains according to restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Additionally, strains were subtyped according to the coagulase gene in order to strengthen discriminatory power. Virulence capabilities of agr genotype subgroups were evaluated using an in vitro neutrophil bactericidal assay, which showed that prevalent genotypes were significantly better at evading this primary host defense. Multiplex PCR was then used to detect enterotoxin genes among the genotype subgroups in order to determine possible virulence candidates that enable strains to combat neutrophil killing

SUBMITTER: Mullarky IK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC97853 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature