title: The ecology, epidemiology and virulence of Enterococcus.
abstract: Enterococci are Gram-positive, catalase-negative, non-spore-forming, facultative anaerobic bacteria, which usually inhabit the alimentary tract of humans in addition to being isolated from environmental and animal sources. They are able to survive a range of stresses and hostile environments, including those of extreme temperature (5-65 degrees C), pH (4.5-10.0) and high NaCl concentration, enabling them to colonize a wide range of niches. Virulence factors of enterococci include the extracellular protein Esp and aggregation substances (Agg), both of which aid in colonization of the host. The nosocomial pathogenicity of enterococci has emerged in recent years, as well as increasing resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics. Understanding the ecology, epidemiology and virulence of Enterococcus species is important for limiting urinary tract infections, hepatobiliary sepsis, endocarditis, surgical wound infection, bacteraemia and neonatal sepsis, and also stemming the further development of antibiotic resistance.
authors.affiliation: University of Northampton, School of Health, Park Campus, Boughton Green Road, Northampton NN2 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: University of Northampton, School of Health, Park Campus, Boughton Green Road, Northampton NN2 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D017753:Ecosystem; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001430:Bacteriocins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C065937:aggregation substance, Enterococcus faecalis; C116707:enterococcal surface protein, esp