Detection of pathogenicity island-associated genes in enterococcal isolates.
- Author:
Min WU
1
;
Yi-Zhong CHEN
;
Zu-Qiong HU
;
Ling-Xiao JIANG
;
Qing CHEN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Bacterial Proteins; chemistry; genetics; Enterococcus; genetics; isolation & purification; pathogenicity; Enterococcus faecalis; genetics; isolation & purification; pathogenicity; Genomic Islands; genetics; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; microbiology; Humans; Membrane Proteins; genetics; Virulence; genetics
- From: Journal of Southern Medical University 2008;28(6):1061-1063
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate the presence of pathogenicity island (PAI)-associated genes in the enterococcal isolates.
METHODSUsing PCR and hybridization methods, PAI-associated genes were detected in 155 enteococcal strains isolated from clinical patients and healthy individuals.
RESULTSAmong the 155 enterococcal isolates, 137 (88.39%) carried at least one of PAI-associated genes, namely hyd (positivity rate of 81.94%), psaA (78.06%), nuc (57.42%), esp (53.55%), cylB (52.90%), and gls24-like (38.06%) genes. Expect for esp gene, the other 5 genes showed higher positivity rates in the E. faecalis strains than in the E. faecium strains, and this difference was statistically significant for the genes nuc, cylB, and gls24-like. The positivity rates and the number of these genes in the E. faecalis from clinical isolates were both significantly higher than those in the strains isolated from healthy individuals.
CONCLUSIONThe data show a wide distribution of the PAI-associated genes among the enterococcal strains, and E. faecalis strains are more likely than E. faecium strains to be positive for the 6 genes, which are present at significant higher rates in the clinically isolated samples than in that from healthy individuals.
