1887

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Volume 53, Issue 6

Genetic polymorphism of the accessory gene regulator () locus in and its association with pathogenicity Free

Abstract

has become one of the most important causes of nosocomial infections in recent years. The staphylococcal accessory gene regulator () is the most important locus responsible for the regulation of virulence factors, and it has been shown to be polymorphic. The aim of this study was to investigate the locus and its genetic polymorphisms in different Chinese isolates and the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and pathogenicity. Specific PCR was used to amplify the different groups. Results were confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and sequence analysis. mutations were detected and three groups of were determined. Of the isolates, 12 % were pathogenic and 17 % had naturally occurring mutations ( > 0.05). Pathogenic isolates comprised 68.2 % group I, 19.3 % group II and 12.5 % group III, while isolates from healthy controls comprised 39 % group I, 51 % group II and 10 % group III ( < 0.01). The percentages of locus mutants and the three groups in different hospitals showed no significant differences ( > 0.05). The percentage of group I isolated from catheters and blood was higher than that isolated from the other clinical specimens. This is the first study to investigate the genetic polymorphism of in in China. The mean percentage of locus mutants was 14.9 % (12 % in clinical specimens; 17.7 % in controls). Genetic polymorphism of in was linked to its pathogenicity; group I was associated with pathogenicity, while most isolates from healthy subjects were group II. The mechanism is to be investigated.

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  • Accepted:
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© Microbiology Society
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2004-06-01
2024-04-26
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Genetic polymorphism of the accessory gene regulator (agr) locus in Staphylococcus epidermidis and its association with pathogenicity
J. Med. Microbiol. 53, 545 (2004); https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.05406-0
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.05406-0
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.05406-0
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