Virulence factors of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium blood culture isolates.
Known and potential virulence factors of enterococcal blood culture isolates were studied using 89 Enterococcus faecalis and 24 Enterococcus faecium isolates. The prevalence of the respective factors was (Enterococcus faecalis vs. Enterococcus faecium): hemolysin 16% vs. 0%, gelatinase 55% vs. 0%, aggregation substance 63% vs. 13%, lipase 35% vs. 4%, hemagglutinin 97% vs. 0%. Deoxyribonuclease was not detected in any isolate. The study showed that hemagglutinin and lipase may represent additional virulence factors of Enterococcus faecalis but not Enterococcus faecium. The significance of these factors in the pathogenesis of enterococcal infection needs to be elucidated in further studies.
Elsner
H A
HA
Abteilung für Transfusionsmedizin, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany. elsner.holger-andreas@mh-hannover.de
Sobottka
I
I
Mack
D
D
Claussen
M
M
Laufs
R
R
Wirth
R
R
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001430:Bacteriocins; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001430:Bacteriocins; D003470:Culture Media; D003603:Cytotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D012724:Sex Attractants; C065937:aggregation substance, Enterococcus faecalis; C120351:cytolysin, Enterococcus faecalis; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D008049:Lipase; D018093:Gelatinases