title: Cell-surface hydrophobicity of Staphylococcus saprophyticus.
abstract: The cell-surface hydrophobicity of 100 urinary isolates of Staphylococcus saprophyticus, cultured from symptomatic females in the general population, was assessed using a two-phase aqueous:hydrocarbon system. Relatively strong cell-surface hydrophobicity was exhibited by 79 isolates using the criteria employed, while only 2 of the remaining 21 isolates failed to demonstrate any detectable hydrophobicity. Cell-surface hydrophobicity may be a virulence factor of S. saprophyticus, important in adherence of the organism to uroepithelia. Additionally, the data support the concept that cell-surface hydrophobicity may be a useful predictor of clinical significance of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from clinical sources.
authors.affiliation: Western Diagnostic Pathology, Myaree, Western Australia.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Riley
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence