Novobiocin resistance and virulence of strains of Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolated from urine and skin.
A method was developed to study virulence of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Our results showed that coagulase-negative staphylococci injected into adult mice by the intracerebral route did not give rise to lethal infections, whereas mice aged 2 days were much more susceptible. Novobiocin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus saprophyticus were more virulent than strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Strains of S. saprophyticus biotype 3 of Baird-Parker's classification varied in virulence according to novobiocin sensitivity. In the classification of Kloos and Schleifer, S. saprophyticus biotype 3 can be subdivided into four distinct staphylococcal species, namely S. saprophyticus , S.cohnii, S.haemolyticus and S.warneri. S. chonii and S. saprophyticus were equally virulent for mice aged 2 days, but novobiocinsensitive S. haemolyticus was less virulent. On epidemiological grounds, however, it would seem that S. saprophyticus has some undefined advantage in invading the urinary tract.
D000818:Animals; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009675:Novobiocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology
D009675:Novobiocin