title: eap Gene as novel target for specific identification of Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: The cell surface-associated extracellular adherence protein (Eap) mediates adherence of Staphylococcus aureus to host extracellular matrix components and inhibits inflammation, wound healing, and angiogenesis. A well-characterized collection of S. aureus and non-S. aureus staphylococcal isolates (n = 813) was tested for the presence of the Eap-encoding gene (eap) by PCR to investigate the use of the eap gene as a specific diagnostic tool for identification of S. aureus. Whereas all 597 S. aureus isolates were eap positive, this gene was not detectable in 216 non-S. aureus staphylococcal isolates comprising 47 different species and subspecies of coagulase-negative staphylococci and non-S. aureus coagulase-positive or coagulase-variable staphylococci. Furthermore, non-S. aureus isolates did not express Eap homologs, as verified on the transcriptional and protein levels. Based on these data, the sensitivity and specificity of the newly developed PCR targeting the eap gene were both 100%. Thus, the unique occurrence of Eap in S. aureus offers a promising tool particularly suitable for molecular diagnostics of this pathogen.
authors: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors: Muzaffar
authors: M
authors: Hussain
authors: Christof
authors: C
authors: von Eiff
authors: Bhanu
authors: B
authors: Sinha
authors: Insa
authors: I
authors: Joost
authors: Mathias
authors: M
authors: Herrmann
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Peters
authors: Karsten
authors: K
authors: Becker
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C444739:Eap-N protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins