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Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Sep 2019Staphylococcus argenteus and Staphylococcus schweitzeri, previously known as divergent Staphylococcus aureus clonal lineages, have been recently established as novel,... (Review)
Review
Implications of identifying the recently defined members of the Staphylococcus aureus complex S. argenteus and S. schweitzeri: a position paper of members of the ESCMID Study Group for Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases (ESGS).
BACKGROUND
Staphylococcus argenteus and Staphylococcus schweitzeri, previously known as divergent Staphylococcus aureus clonal lineages, have been recently established as novel, difficult-to-delimit, coagulase-positive species within the S. aureus complex. Methicillin-resistant strains of S. argenteus are known from Australia and the UK. Knowledge of their epidemiology, medical significance and transmission risk is limited and partly contradictory, hampering definitive recommendations. There is mounting evidence that the pathogenicity of S. argenteus is similar to that of 'classical' S. aureus, while as yet no S. schweitzeri infections have been reported.
AIM
To provide decision support on whether and how to distinguish and report both species.
SOURCES
PubMed, searched for S. argenteus and S. schweitzeri.
CONTENT
This position paper reviews the main characteristics of both species and draws conclusions for microbiological diagnostics and surveillance as well as infection prevention and control measures.
IMPLICATIONS
We propose not distinguishing within the S. aureus complex for routine reporting purposes until there is evidence that pathogenicity or clinical outcome differ markedly between the different species. Primarily for research purposes, suitably equipped laboratories are encouraged to differentiate between S. argenteus and S. schweitzeri. Caution is urged if these novel species are explicitly reported. In such cases, a specific comment should be added (i.e. 'member of the S.aureus complex') to prevent confusion with less- or non-pathogenic staphylococci. Prioritizing aspects of patient safety, methicillin-resistant isolates should be handled as recommended for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In these cases, the clinician responsible should be directly contacted and informed by the diagnosing microbiological laboratory, as they would be for MRSA. Research is warranted to clarify the epidemiology, clinical impact and implications for infection control of such isolates.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Phylogeny; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 30872103
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.02.028 -
MicrobiologyOpen Apr 2019Staphylococcus argenteus, a novel species of the genus Staphylococcus or a member of the S. aureus complex, is closely related to S. aureus and is usually...
Staphylococcus argenteus, a novel species of the genus Staphylococcus or a member of the S. aureus complex, is closely related to S. aureus and is usually misidentified. In this study, the presence of S. argenteus in isolated S. aureus was investigated in 67 rabbits with abscess lesions during 2014-2016. Among 19 S. aureus complex isolates, three were confirmed to be S. argenteus by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, nonribosomal peptide synthetase gene amplification, and multilocus sequence type. All S. aureus complex isolates, including the S. aureus isolates, were examined for their antimicrobial resistance phenotype by disk diffusion and for their resistance genotype by PCR assays. Among the S. argenteus isolates, one was susceptible to all antimicrobial drugs and the other two were resistant to penicillin and doxycycline. In contrast, most S. aureus isolates were resistant to penicillin (37.5%), and gentamicin (12.5%). Moreover, S. aureus isolates harbored the blaZ, mecA, aacA-aphD, and mrs(A) as well as mutations of gyrA and grlA, but S. argenteus isolates carried solely the blaZ. S. argenteus isolates were investigated for enterotoxin (sea-sed) and virulence genes by PCR. One isolate carried sea, sec, and sed, whereas the other two isolates carried only sea or sed. No isolate carried seb and see. All three S. argenteus isolates carried hla, hlb, and clfA, followed by pvl, whereas coa, spa (IgG-binding region), and spa (x region) were not detected in the three isolates. This paper presents the first identification of S. argenteus from rabbits in Thailand. S. argenteus might be pathogenic because the isolates carried virulence genes. Moreover, antimicrobial resistance was observed. Investigations of this new bacterial species should be conducted in other animal species as well as in humans.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Proteins; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Genotype; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Phylogeny; Rabbits; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Thailand
PubMed: 29931813
DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.665 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Dec 2017Since the 1950s, Staphylococcus carnosus is used as a starter culture for sausage fermentation where it contributes to food safety, flavor, and a controlled fermentation... (Review)
Review
Since the 1950s, Staphylococcus carnosus is used as a starter culture for sausage fermentation where it contributes to food safety, flavor, and a controlled fermentation process. The long experience with S. carnosus has shown that it is a harmless and "food grade" species. This was confirmed by the genome sequence of S. carnosus TM300 that lacks genes involved in pathogenicity. Since the development of a cloning system in TM300, numerous genes have been cloned, expressed, and characterized and in particular, virulence genes that could be functionally validated in this non-pathogenic strain. A secretion system was developed for production and secretion of industrially important proteins and later modified to also enable display of heterologous proteins on the surface. The display system has been employed for various purposes, such as development of live bacterial delivery vehicles as well as microbial biocatalysts or bioadsorbents for potential environmental or biosensor applications. Recently, this surface display system has been utilized for display of peptide and protein libraries for profiling of protease substrates and for generation of various affinity proteins, e.g., Affibody molecules and scFv antibodies. In addition, by display of fragmented antigen-encoding genes, the surface expression system has been successfully used for epitope mapping of antibodies. Reviews on specific applications of S. carnosus have been published earlier, but here we provide a more extensive overview, covering a broad range of areas from food fermentation to sophisticated methods for protein-based drug discovery, which are all based on S. carnosus.
Topics: Biotechnology; Cell Surface Display Techniques; Fermentation; Food Microbiology; Protein Engineering; Staphylococcus
PubMed: 28971248
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8528-6 -
The Journal of Clinical Investigation Dec 2003Quorum sensing via the accessory gene regulator (agr) system has been assigned a central role in the pathogenesis of staphylococci, particularly Staphylococcus aureus.... (Review)
Review
Quorum sensing via the accessory gene regulator (agr) system has been assigned a central role in the pathogenesis of staphylococci, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. While the control of virulence gene expression in vitro by agr has been relatively straightforward to describe, regulation of both the quorum response itself and virulence genes in vivo is considerably more complex. The quorum response is highly dependent upon the environment in which the organism is grown and is strongly influenced by additional regulators that respond to signals other than cell density. There is increasing evidence that the agr phenotype may influence the behavior and pathogenesis of biofilm-associated S. aureus and S. epidermidis and may contribute to the chronic nature of some biofilm-associated infections.
Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Biofilms; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Signal Transduction; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Trans-Activators; Virulence
PubMed: 14660735
DOI: 10.1172/JCI20442 -
Le Infezioni in Medicina Jun 2018Confectionery is one of the potential sources of contamination and transmission of gastrointestinal infections to humans. Staphylococcus species, and particularly the...
Confectionery is one of the potential sources of contamination and transmission of gastrointestinal infections to humans. Staphylococcus species, and particularly the coagulase-positive ones, have the remarkable capability to produce high amounts of enterotoxin in food. In the present study, the frequency and diversity of Staphylococcus in confectioneries in Iran were assessed by using a combination of conventional and molecular methods. A total of 55 confection samples were collected from 30 confectioneries of Isfahan. They were analyzed for the presence of Staphylococcus using standard protocols for isolation and characterization of the isolates. The conventional tests were used for primary identification and the sequence analysis of 16S rRNA was used for the species identification. A total of 47 out of 55 samples were gram-positive cocci (85.45%). They belonged to 39 Staphylococcus spp., 7 Macrococcus spp., and one Micrococcus spp. The most prevalent 11 various Staphylococcus species were S. aureus 30.8 %, S. warneri 20.5% and S. succinus 17.9. Identification and characterization of Staphylococcus species can be important for epidemiological investigations and assessment of virulence factors such as enterotoxin production and development of specific management practices to prevent staphylococcal food poisoning.
Topics: Candy; DNA, Bacterial; Developing Countries; Food Microbiology; Iran; Staphylococcus
PubMed: 29932088
DOI: No ID Found -
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology :... Dec 2021Staphylococcus spp. and Cutibacterium acnes are members of the skin microbiome but can also act as pathogens. Particularly, Staphylococcus species are known to cause...
Staphylococcus spp. and Cutibacterium acnes are members of the skin microbiome but can also act as pathogens. Particularly, Staphylococcus species are known to cause medical devices-associated infections, and biofilm production is one of their main virulence factors. Biofilms allow bacteria to adhere and persist on surfaces, protecting them from antimicrobials and host defenses. Since both bacteria are found in the human skin, potentially competing for niches, we aimed to investigate if C. acnes produces molecules that affect Staphylococcus spp. biofilm formation and dispersal. Thus, we evaluated the impact of C. acnes cell-free conditioned media (CFCM) on S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. hominis, and S. lugdunensis biofilm formation. S. lugdunensis and S. hominis biofilm formation was significantly reduced with C. acnes CFCM without impact on their planktonic growth. C. acnes CFCM also significantly disrupted S. hominis established biofilms. The active molecules against S. lugdunensis and S. hominis biofilms appeared to be distinct since initial characterization points to different sizes and sensitivity to sodium metaperiodate, although the activity is highly resistant to heat in both cases. Mass spectrometry analysis of the fractions active against S. hominis revealed several potential candidates. Investigating how species present in the same environment interact, affecting the dynamics of biofilm formation, may reveal clinically useful compounds as well as molecular aspects of interspecies interactions.
Topics: Antibiosis; Biofilms; Culture Media, Conditioned; Humans; Propionibacteriaceae; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis
PubMed: 34599747
DOI: 10.1007/s42770-021-00617-w -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Oct 2020causes opportunistic infections in dogs. It also has significant zoonotic potential, with the emergence of multidrug resistance leading to difficulty treating both...
causes opportunistic infections in dogs. It also has significant zoonotic potential, with the emergence of multidrug resistance leading to difficulty treating both animal and human infections. Manuka honey has previously been reported to inhibit many bacterial pathogens, including methicillin-resistant , and is successfully utilized in both clinical and veterinary practice. Here, we evaluated the ability of manuka honey to inhibit strains of grown alone and in combination with antibiotics, as well as its capacity to modulate virulence within multiple isolates. All 18 of the genetically diverse strains sequenced and tested were inhibited by ≤12% (wt/vol) medical-grade manuka honey, although tolerance to five clinically relevant antibiotics was observed. The susceptibility of the isolates to four of these antibiotics was significantly increased ( ≤ 0.05) when combined with sublethal concentrations of honey, although sensitivity to oxacillin was decreased. Virulence factor (DNase, protease, and hemolysin) activity was also significantly reduced ( ≤ 0.05) in over half of isolates when cultured with sublethal concentrations of honey (13, 9, and 10 isolates, respectively). These findings highlight the potential for manuka honey to be utilized against infections. is an important member of the skin microbial community in animals and can cause opportunistic infections in both pets and their owners. The high incidence of antimicrobial resistance in highlights that this opportunistic zoonotic pathogen can cause infections which require prolonged and intensive treatment to resolve. Manuka honey has proven efficacy against many bacterial pathogens and is an accepted topical treatment for infections in both veterinary and clinical practice, and so it is a particularly appropriate antimicrobial for use with zoonotic pathogens such as Here, we demonstrate that not only is manuka honey highly potent against novel multidrug-resistant isolates, it also acts synergistically with clinically relevant antibiotics. In addition, manuka honey modulates virulence activity, even at subinhibitory concentrations. In a clinical setting, these attributes may assist in controlling infection, allowing a more rapid resolution and reducing antibiotic use.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Honey; Staphylococcus; Virulence
PubMed: 32801179
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.01768-20 -
Biomedica : Revista Del Instituto... Sep 2019Introduction: Infections associated with health care caused by S. aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococci multi-resistant to antibiotics cause a high epidemiological...
Introduction: Infections associated with health care caused by S. aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococci multi-resistant to antibiotics cause a high epidemiological impact due to their high morbidity and mortality. Biofilm formation, which has been associated with antimicrobial resistance, can also occur. Objectives: To determine methicillin resistance and to quantify the biofilm production to establish if there is a relationship in clinical isolates of S. aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococci. Material and methods: A total of 11 strains of S. aureus and 12 of coagulase-negative Staphylococci were studied. Methicillin resistance was determined with cefoxitin discs and the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CSLI), 2018 reference values. Biofilm production was quantified by the crystal violet method. The mecA and icaADBC genes were identified by PCR. A bivariate analysis was performed with chi-square (c2) and Cramér’s V statistical tests, using SPSS™, version 20.0 software. Results: Nine S. aureus strains were methicillin-resistant and two were sensitive. Eight coagulase-negative Staphylococci strains were resistant and four were sensitive. The mecA genotype was found in eight of the nine S. aureus resistant strains and six of eight resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci. All strains formed biofilms. Ten strains of S. aureus and 11 of coagulase-negative Staphylococci presented the icaADCB genotype. No association was found between methicillin-resistance and biofilm formation. Conclusions: Cefoxitin is enough to define the resistance phenotype and is associated with the mecA genotype. All strains formed biofilms and were related to the presence of the icaADCB operon. Biofilm formation and methicillin resistance were independent features in both groups of strains.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Proteins; Biofilms; Cefoxitin; Coagulase; DNA, Bacterial; Genes, Bacterial; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mexico; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Oxacillin; Penicillin-Binding Proteins; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 31584765
DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.4131 -
Journal of Dairy Science Jul 2017The aim of this research paper was to characterize coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative staphylococci from raw milk, Minas cheese, and production lines of Minas...
The aim of this research paper was to characterize coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative staphylococci from raw milk, Minas cheese, and production lines of Minas cheese processing. One hundred isolates from 3 different cheese producers were characterized using molecular approaches, such as PCR, molecular typing, and DNA sequencing. Staphylococcus aureus (88% of the isolates) was the most abundant followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hyicus, and Staphylococcus warneri. Among the 22 enterotoxin genes tested, the most frequent was seh (62% of the isolates), followed by selx and ser. Hemolysin genes were widely distributed across isolates, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin and toxic shock syndrome toxin genes were also identified. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus were staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec III, IVa, IVd, and others nontypeable. In the phenotypic antibiotic resistance, multiresistant isolates were detected and resistance to penicillin was the most observed. Using spa typing, we identified several types and described a new one, t14969, isolated from cheese. These findings suggest that antibiotic resistance and potentially virulent strains from different sources can be found in the Brazilian dairy processing environment. Further research should be conducted with collaboration from regulatory agencies to develop programs of prevention of virulent and resistant strain dissemination in dairy products and the processing environment.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Brazil; Cheese; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Milk; Staphylococcus
PubMed: 28457548
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-12477 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Sep 1983A total of 158 Staphylococcus strains from various sources were characterized by biochemical, physiological, and morphological tests. Numerical taxonomy was applied by... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
A total of 158 Staphylococcus strains from various sources were characterized by biochemical, physiological, and morphological tests. Numerical taxonomy was applied by using these features. Taxonomic analysis was done with programs run under the MVS-TSO system of the IBM 370 complex and PDP-10 system of the National Institutes of Health. DNA-DNA hybridization with nitrocellulose filters was done to compare selected atypical cultures with American Type Culture Collection reference strains. We found that the use of the nomenclature of Bergey's Manual (8th edition) to identify these strains by species was not adequate. DNA homology values supported the formation of Staphylococcus hyicus subsp. hyicus separate from Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. The three tests that best separated these strains into four species were (i) tube coagulase (6-h or 24-h porcine plasma or 24-h Difco rabbit plasma), (ii) production of acetoin or acid aerobically from ribose, maltose, or trehalose, and (iii) growth in the presence of novobiocin. Four strains of S. hyicus subsp. hyicus (VII76, VII113, VII131, and VA519) gave typical enterotoxigenic responses in monkey-feeding tests but were negative for enterotoxins A through E, suggesting the presence of one or more new enterotoxins. Two coagulase-negative, heat-stable DNase-positive strains (D143 and ARM) could not be classified by either DNA-DNA hybridization or numerical taxonomy, and D143 was enterotoxigenic as measured by the monkey-feeding bioassay. DNA homology showed that strain FRI-698M was more closely related to S. epidermidis than to S. aureus, yet it produced enterotoxin D. These data suggest the occurrence of coagulase-negative enterotoxigenic strains that are not S. aureus; nonetheless, a positive tube coagulase test and heat-stable DNase test should together be useful for routine screening of most potentially enterotoxigenic staphylococci in foods.
Topics: DNA, Bacterial; Enterotoxins; Species Specificity; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Terminology as Topic
PubMed: 6639019
DOI: 10.1128/aem.46.3.649-660.1983