Genome-based analysis of virulence genes in a non-biofilm-forming Staphylococcus epidermidis strain (ATCC 12228).
Staphylococcus epidermidis strains are diverse in their pathogenicity; some are invasive and cause serious nosocomial infections, whereas others are non-pathogenic commensal organisms. To analyse the implications of different virulence factors in Staphylococcus epidermidis infections, the complete genome of Staphylococcus epidermidis strain ATCC 12228, a non-biofilm forming, non-infection associated strain used for detection of residual antibiotics in food products, was sequenced. This strain showed low virulence by mouse and rat experimental infections. The genome consists of a single 2499 279 bp chromosome and six plasmids. The chromosomal G + C content is 32.1% and 2419 protein coding sequences (CDS) are predicted, among which 230 are putative novel genes. Compared to the virulence factors in Staphylococcus aureus, aside from delta-haemolysin and beta-haemolysin, other toxin genes were not found. In contrast, the majority of adhesin genes are intact in ATCC 12228. Most strikingly, the ica operon coding for the enzymes synthesizing interbacterial cellular polysaccharide is missing in ATCC 12228 and rearrangements of adjacent genes are shown. No mec genes, IS256, IS257, were found in ATCC 12228. It is suggested that the absence of the ica operon is a genetic marker in commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis strains which are less likely to become invasive.
Zhang
Yue-Qing
YQ
Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Ren
Shuang-Xi
SX
Li
Hua-Lin
HL
Wang
Yong-Xiang
YX
Fu
Gang
G
Yang
Jian
J
Qin
Zhi-Qiang
ZQ
Miao
You-Gang
YG
Wang
Wen-Yi
WY
Chen
Run-Sheng
RS
Shen
Yan
Y
Chen
Zhu
Z
Yuan
Zheng-Hong
ZH
Zhao
Guo-Ping
GP
Qu
Di
D
Danchin
Antoine
A
Wen
Yu-Mei
YM
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005819:Genetic Markers; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics*
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005819:Genetic Markers; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C113579:polysaccharide intercellular adhesin