Wide Distribution of Virulence Genes amongEnterococcus faeciumandEnterococcus faecalisClinical Isolates

Abstract

Enterococcus, a Gram-positive facultative anaerobic cocci belonging to the lactic acid bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes, is known to be able to resist a wide range of hostile conditions such as different pH levels, high concentration of NaCl (6.5%), and the extended temperatures between 5°C and 65°C. Despite being the third most common nosocomial pathogen, our understanding on its virulence factors is still poorly understood. The current study was aimed to determine the prevalence of different virulence genes in Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. For this purpose, 79 clinical isolates of Malaysian enterococci were evaluated for the presence of virulence genes. pilB, fms8, efaAfm, and sgrA genes are prevalent in all clinical isolates. In conclusion, the pathogenicity of E. faecalis and E. faecium could be associated with different virulence factors and these genes are widely distributed among the enterococcal species.

A decade of genomic history for healthcare-associated Enterococcus faecium in the United Kingdom and Ireland

“…Gene presence was detected by in silico PCR using previously published primers, as follows: acm (Nallapareddy et al 2003) (Soheili et al 2014), esp (Vankerckhoven et al 2004), scm (Soheili et al 2014), sgrA (Soheili et al 2014), hyl (Vankerckhoven et al 2004), and efa (Eaton and Gasson 2001).…”

Characterization of Aminoglycoside Resistance and Virulence Genes among Enterococcus spp. Isolated from a Hospital in China

“…Enterococcus species are opportunistic pathogens that are part of the normal gut microbiota of both humans and animals, and can survive in a diverse range of harsh conditions [ 1 , 2 ]. The first Enterococcus species to be identified was isolated from an endocarditis patient in the 1900s.…”

History, Virulence Genes, Identification and Antimicrobial Resistance of Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from Diabetic Foot Patients

“…Seventy-nine of Malaysian enterococci isolates were examined for the presence of different virulence genes. Soheili et al, (2014) found that pilB, fms8, efaAfm, and sgrA genes of Enterococci are predominant in all medical isolates. In addition, incidence of gene coding for Esp has been commonly identified in medical isolates than commensal isolates (Giridhara Upadhyaya et al, 2010).…”

“…Enterococcus species have numerous virulence factors such as enterococcal surface protein (Esp) and aggregation substance (Agg) which increase the process of colonization in epithelial lining of the host cells (Soheili et al, 2014). Seventy-nine of Malaysian enterococci isolates were examined for the presence of different virulence genes.…”