Polyclonality of Staphylococcus epidermidis residing on the healthy ocular surface.
Staphylococcus epidermidis is part of the normal bacterial flora on the ocular surface. The chromosomal DNA of bacterial isolates obtained from the conjunctival sac, upper and lower lid margins, and upper and lower Meibomian glands of healthy volunteers was subjected to SmaI digestion and PFGE to study the genetic diversity of the organisms. Multiple colonies were also examined of S. epidermidis derived from the conjunctival sac of the same subjects. Lastly, commensal bacteria were harvested from the ocular surfaces of four healthy subjects once a month for 6 months, and the genetic background of the S. epidermidis isolates was analysed. It was found that bacterial strains not only from different subjects but also from multiple ocular surface sites of the same subject exhibited different PFGE patterns. In five of 42 subjects multiple colonies of S. epidermidis were isolated from the conjunctival sac; three harboured multiple colonies with different PFGE patterns, and two manifested multiple colonies with identical PFGE patterns. S. epidermidis isolated from the conjunctival sac of the same subjects over a 6-month period exhibited varying PFGE patterns. The data demonstrate the polyclonality of S. epidermidis on the healthy ocular surface.
Ueta
Mayumi
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Hirokoji, Kawaramachi, Kamigyoku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan.
Iida
Tetsuya
T
Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Sakamoto
Masako
M
Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Sotozono
Chie
C
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Hirokoji, Kawaramachi, Kamigyoku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan.
Takahashi
Junko
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Hirokoji, Kawaramachi, Kamigyoku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan.
Kojima
Kentaro
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Hirokoji, Kawaramachi, Kamigyoku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan.
Okada
Kazuhisa
K
Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Chen
Xiuhao
X
Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Kinoshita
Shigeru
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Hirokoji, Kawaramachi, Kamigyoku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan.
Honda
Takeshi
T
Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005123:Eye / Q000382:microbiology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013997:Time Factors
D004269:DNA, Bacterial