The effects of the SCCmec element and colony spreading on the virulence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a nematode model
Loading...
Date
2013-04-03
Authors
Rea, Megan S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus presents clinical challenges. The ability of S. aureus to cause human disease is correlated with the nematocidal activity of that isolate. This thesis investigates the relationship between SCCmec type, colony spreading, and the presence of the fudoh/psm-mec region of MRSA isolates to their ability to kill Caenorhabditis elegans.
PCR was used to test for the fudoh/psm-mec region in 420 CMRSA2 isolates and 155 CMRSA1 isolates. Spread plate assays were performed on 149 CMRSA2 isolates to determine correlation between SCCmec type and colony spreading. Fudoh/psm-mec was correlated with the infection/colonization status of a patient. SCCmec type IV was correlated with increased spreading ability.
SCCmec type, PFGE type, spa type, and colony spreading ability of 40 MRSA isolates were determined; these isolates were characterized using a nematode killing assay. It was found that the colony spreading ability of an isolate correlated with the nematocidal ability of that isolate.
Description
Keywords
Staphylococcus, Nematodes