High Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxin Gene Cluster Superantigens in Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Isolates

is a highly prevalent respiratory pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF). It is unclear how this organism establishes chronic infections in CF airways. We hypothesized that isolates from patients with CF would share common virulence properties that enable chronic infection. 77 isolates were obtained from...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genes 2019-12, Vol.10 (12), p.1036
Main Authors: Fischer, Anthony J, Kilgore, Samuel H, Singh, Sachinkumar B, Allen, Patrick D, Hansen, Alexis R, Limoli, Dominique H, Schlievert, Patrick M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibiotics
Antigens
Biobanks
Chronic infection
Clinical isolates
Cystic fibrosis
Drug resistance
Genes
Genotyping
Laboratories
Pathogens
Pediatrics
Respiratory tract
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus infections
Superantigens
T cell receptors
Toxins
Virulence
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Summary:is a highly prevalent respiratory pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF). It is unclear how this organism establishes chronic infections in CF airways. We hypothesized that isolates from patients with CF would share common virulence properties that enable chronic infection. 77 isolates were obtained from 45 de-identified patients with CF at the University of Iowa. We assessed isolates phenotypically and used genotyping assays to determine the presence or absence of 18 superantigens (SAgs). We observed phenotypic diversity among isolates from patients with CF. Genotypic analysis for SAgs revealed 79.8% of CF clinical isolates carried all six members of the enterotoxin gene cluster (EGC). MRSA and MSSA isolates had similar prevalence of SAgs. We additionally observed that EGC SAgs were prevalent in isolated from two geographically distinct CF centers. SAgs belonging to the EGC are highly prevalent in CF clinical isolates. The greater prevalence in these SAgs in CF airway specimens compared to skin isolates suggests that these toxins confer selective advantage in the CF airway.
ISSN:2073-4425
2073-4425
DOI:10.3390/genes10121036