« Previous AbstractThe Sea Spray Chemistry and Particle Evolution study (SeaSCAPE): overview and experimental methods    Next AbstractPhoretic nest parasites use sexual deception to obtain transport to their host's nest »

Klin Mikrobiol Infekc Lek

Title:		[Virulence factors in vancomycin-susceptible and vancomycin-resistant enterococci in the University Hospital Olomouc]
Author(s):		Sauer P; Sila J; Vagnerova I;
Address:		"Ustav Mikrobiologie, FN Olomouc a LF UP v Olomouci. pavel.sauer@email.cz"
Journal Title:		Klin Mikrobiol Infekc Lek
Year:		2009
Volume:		15
Issue:		2
Page Number:		44 - 47
DOI:
ISSN/ISBN:		1211-264X (Print) 1211-264X (Linking)
Abstract:		"BACKGROUND: Bacteria of the genus Enterococcus are a normal part of the intestinal microflora but also important nosocomial pathogens. An alarming fact is increasing resistance to antimicrobial agents such as vancomycin (VRE). Enterococci frequently produce numerous virulence factors, e.g. gelatinase, surface protein, adhesins and sex pheromones. Their genes, with respect to vancomycin resistance, are studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 108 isolates obtained from various clinical samples (except for stools) taken from patients in the University Hospital Olomouc and divided into VRE (n = 54) and control, vancomycin-susceptible (n = 54) groups, the prevalence of genes for gelatinase (gelE), surface protein (esp) and sex pheromones (cpd, cob and ccf) was investigated. For genetic detection, real-time PCR was used. RESULTS: In the control group of vancomycin-susceptible enterococci, only six isolates (11.1 %) showed none of the studied virulence factors. The most prevalent gene was ccf (77.7 %, n = 42), followed by cpd in 66.6 % (36), gelE in 55.5 % (30), esp in 46.3 % (25) and cob in 38.9 % (21). In the VRE group, 17 isolates (31.5%) contained none of the studied genes. More prevalent was esp in 62.9 % (34), substantially less frequent were cpd in 5.6 % (3), cob in 5.6 % (3), ccf in 5.6 % (3) and gelE in 3.7 % (2). CONCLUSIONS: In VRE a smaller occurence, i.e. four out of the five studied virulence factors, were detected. The lower prevalence of genes for virulence factors was probably due to their species representation (substantially higher frequency of Enterococcus faecium in which these genes are mostly much less prevalent)"
Keywords:		Enterococcus/*drug effects/genetics/metabolism Humans *Vancomycin Resistance/genetics Virulence Factors/*genetics;
Notes:		"MedlineSauer, P Sila, J Vagnerova, I cze English Abstract Czech Republic 2009/06/03 Klin Mikrobiol Infekc Lek. 2009 Apr; 15(2):44-7"