Distribution of four capsular serotypes of Enterococcus faecalis among clinical isolates from different geographical origins and infection sites.
BACKGROUND
Enterococci possess capsular polysaccharide antigens that are the targets of opsonic antibodies. These antibodies are potential candidates for development as immunotherapy.


METHODS
The present study analyzes the distribution of four capsular serotypes within a collection of 157 isolates of Enterococcus faecalis from four countries with different sites of clinical infection.


RESULTS
By using a capsular polysaccharide-specific ELISA, 42% of the isolates were grouped into one of four serogroups, and another 9% showed cross-reactivity between two serotype-specific sera. Heterogeneity of serotype distribution by both geographical origin and infection site was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Half of the strain collection could be typed with four serotype-specific sera. No serotype from a given country or infection site clearly predominated.
Hufnagel
M
M
Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Carey
V J
VJ
Baldassarri
L
L
Reinert
R R
RR
Huebner
J
J
D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000276:immunology*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012703:Serotyping; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology