Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene detected in Staphylococcus aureus strain isolated from a knee arthroprosthesis infection.

Abstract

This report focuses on the molecular characterization of a Staphylococcus aureus strain isolated from a knee arthroprosthesis infection and recognized retrospectively as a carrier of the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene. The stored microbiological isolate, which belonged to the strain collection of the Research Unit on Implant Infections of the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, was retrieved for molecular analysis. Genotyping was carried out, revealing an interesting profile. In addition to the positivity for the Panton-Valentine toxin gene, the results indicated that the isolate belonged to the agr III group and was endowed with bbp and cna genes, both encoding for staphylococcal adhesins that bind bone proteins. The strain had the mecA gene for methicillin resistance, even though it was unable to resist any of the beta-lactam or other antibiotics. Its gene configuration matched that of other community-acquired methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus(CA-MRSA and CA-MSSA) strains which have recently been reported worldwide. As far as we know,this is the first report on a PVL-positive S. aureus strain associated with an orthopedic implant (knee arthroprosthesis) infection.

• Authors: Lucio Montanaro, Lucilla Baldassarri, Tolmino Corazzari, Roberta Creti, Stefano Ravaioli, Ilaria Cangini, Valter Pirini, Alessandra Maso, M Elena Donati, Francesco Pegreffi, Livia Visai, Davide Campoccia, Pietro Speziale, Carla Renata Arciola
• Journal: The International journal of artificial organs (Int J Artif Organs) Vol. 32 Issue 9 Pg. 630-4 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 0391-3988 [Print] United States
• PMID: 19882547 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adhesins, Bacterial
• Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus
• Bacterial Proteins
• Bacterial Toxins
• Carrier Proteins
• Exotoxins
• Leukocidins
• Panton-Valentine leukocidin
• Penicillin-Binding Proteins
• Trans-Activators
• adhesin, Staphylococcus aureus
• bone sialoprotein-binding protein, Staphylococcus aureus
• mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus

Topics

• Adhesins, Bacterial (genetics)
• Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee (adverse effects, instrumentation)
• Bacterial Proteins (genetics)
• Bacterial Toxins (genetics)
• Carrier Proteins (genetics)
• Exotoxins (genetics)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
• Genotype
• Humans
• Knee Prosthesis (adverse effects)
• Leukocidins (genetics)
• Methicillin Resistance (genetics)
• Middle Aged
• Penicillin-Binding Proteins
• Phenotype
• Prosthesis-Related Infections (microbiology)
• Staphylococcus aureus (genetics, isolation & purification)
• Trans-Activators (genetics)