Plasmid-pattern analysis in the differentiation of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates.
Plasmids carried by 29 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from two different origins (invasive and carrier, non-hospital-associated strains) were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis in order to evaluate any association with virulence. Plasmid patterns were found to be characteristic of individual strains and no particular molecular size band was found to correlate with either of the two categories of isolates. It is concluded that the plasmid pattern analysis carried out could not differentiate between carrier and invasive S. epidermidis, but did provide a useful tool for epidemiological investigation.
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
C M
CM
Ferreirós
M J
MJ
Souto
M T
MT
Criado
D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence