title: Polyclonality of Staphylococcus epidermidis residing on the healthy ocular surface.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Hirokoji, Kawaramachi, Kamigyoku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueta
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Hirokoji, Kawaramachi, Kamigyoku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan.
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sotozono
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Hirokoji, Kawaramachi, Kamigyoku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan.
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Hirokoji, Kawaramachi, Kamigyoku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Xiuhao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Hirokoji, Kawaramachi, Kamigyoku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacterial Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Honda
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial