Virulence gene distribution in clinical, nosocomial and environmental isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The virulence factor genotypes of a large cohort of clinical, nosocomial environment and community environment isolates (184 in total) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Tasmania, Australia, were determined by PCR. The virulence factor genotype of the majority of isolates was highly conserved, with the exception of the virulence gene exoU, which demonstrated low prevalence (33 isolates; 18 %) in the population tested. Isolates collected from the environment of intensive therapy wards (intensive care unit and neurosurgical units) of the major tertiary referral hospital in Tasmania were found to be more likely (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively) to possess the virulence factor gene exoU than all other isolates. Adult cystic fibrosis isolates showed a decreased prevalence of the exoU gene (P<0.01) when compared to other clinical isolates (P<0.01), which may indicate decreased virulence. No specific virulence factor genotype was associated with the cystic fibrosis epidemic strains tested.
Bradbury
R S
RS
CF Research Group, Menzies Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Collins Street, Hobart, TAS, Australia.|Microbiology Department, Royal Hobart Hospital, Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
Roddam
L F
LF
CF Research Group, Menzies Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Collins Street, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
Merritt
A
A
Burkholderia Research Group, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
Reid
D W
DW
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Hobart Hospital, Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, Australia.|CF Research Group, Menzies Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Collins Street, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
Champion
A C
AC
CF Research Group, Menzies Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Collins Street, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
D000328:Adult; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005838:Genotype; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013648:Tasmania; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D037521:Virulence Factors; C111749:pseudomonas exoprotein A protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa