title: Genes encoding adhesion factors and biofilm formation in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Morocco.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infections involving methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remain a serious threat to hospitalized patients worldwide. MRSA is characterized by recalcitrance to antimicrobial therapy, which is a function not only of widespread antimicrobial resistance, but also the capacity to form biofilms. The present study evaluated the presence of genes encoding adhesion factors and the biofilm-forming capacity in MRSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 53 isolates of MRSA, recovered from December 2010 to May 2014 in a mother and child hospital, CHU Mohamed VI in Marrakech, Morocco, were screened for the presence of bap and ica genes associated with biofilm formation, and for bbp, cna, ebpS, eno, fib, fnbA, fnbB, clfA, and clfB genes that encode microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs). The biofilm formation assay was performed in 96-well microtiter polystyrene plates. The presence of genes was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  An association was found between icaD gene detection and biofilm formation; 100% of the strains harbored icaD and produced biofilm. None of the isolates harbored bap or bbp. Furthermore, 96.23% isolates were positive for fnbA, 60.37% for eno, 43.39% for clfA and clfB, 11.32% for cna, 9.34% for ebpS, 5.66% for fib, and 1.89% for fnbA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings showed that the MRSA carriage in Marrakech children was high. The genetic variations of adhesion genes require further investigation.
authors: Faculty of Sciences Ain-Chock, Casablanca, Morocco. bahsamboja@gmail.com.
authors: Bahija
authors: B
authors: Serray
authors: Salwa
authors: S
authors: Oufrid
authors: Imane
authors: I
authors: Hannaoui
authors: Fatna
authors: F
authors: Bourjilate
authors: Nabila
authors: N
authors: Soraa
authors: Mostafa
authors: M
authors: Mliji
authors: Mohammed
authors: M
authors: Sobh
authors: Abderrahmane
authors: A
authors: Hammoumi
authors: Mohammed
authors: M
authors: Timinouni
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: El Azhari
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial