Genotypic characterization of hospital Enterococcus faecalis strains using multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The level of genetic diversity and relationships between the specific genotypes and the distribution of virulence determinants among Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from patients hospitalized in different wards of two hospitals were investigated.


RESULTS
Fifty-six clinical strains of E. faecalis, isolated from patients hospitalized in the period of 1999-2004 in several wards in Wrocław (Poland), were analysed by multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA). Analysis of seven genomic loci identified 40 novel genotypes among the analysed E. faecalis strains, with two major genomic groups, designated I and II, distinguished at a cut-off of 35%. With a similarity cut-off of 85.7%, the genotypes could be combined into 12 clusters (C1-C12), containing at least two isolates. The remaining 18 MLVA types were represented by a single isolate.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the data obtained by MLVA, it was found that (i) many E. faecalis isolates recovered from patients from the wards whose location allowed the potential transmission of micro-organisms, belonged to closely related MLVA types and (ii) possible relationships between specific E. faecalis genotype and the virulence factors lipase, haemolysin and esp gene can exist.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study confirms that MLVA is a suitable method for the epidemiological study of E. faecalis and for the first time shows possible relationships between specific genotypes and such virulence determinants, i.e. lipase, haemolysin and esp gene.
Department of Food Hygiene and Consumer Health Protection, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
E
E
Wałecka
J
J
Bania
E
E
Dworniczek
M
M
Ugorski
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D011044:Poland; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D037521:Virulence Factors