Abstract
Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL; gene designation lukF/S-PV) is likely an important virulence factor for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), as qualitative expression of the protein correlates with severity for specific clinical presentations, including skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). Development of genetic approaches for risk-assessment of patients with S. aureus infections may prove clinically useful, and whether lukF/S-PV gene expression correlates with specific clinical presentations for S. aureus has been largely unexplored. In the present study, we quantified lukS-PV mRNA among 96 S. aureus isolates to determine whether expression levels correlated with specific clinical presentations in adults and children. Expression level of lukS-PV mRNA among isolates from skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) was significantly greater than among isolates from blood stream infection (BSIs), and expression level of lukS-PV mRNA among BSI isolates from children was significantly greater than for BSI isolates among adults. Moreover, expression level of lukS-PV mRNA among community-acquired (CA) isolates was significantly greater than for hospital-acquired (HA) isolates. These data justify additional studies to determine the potential clinical utility for lukS-PV mRNA quantification as a predictive tool for severity of S. aureus infection.
Highlights
Introduction have not found correlations betweenPanton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) expression and S.aureus pathogenesis[7,8,9]
Aureus isolates epidemiologically associated with severe infections, including necrotizing pneumonia and soft tissue infections (SSTIs)[1]
One study demonstrated that strains with more PVL production produced larger skin lesions and higher bacterial burdens within the lesions in a murine skin infection model[11]
Summary
Aureus pathogenesis[7,8,9]. A recent meta-analysis revealed that PVL genes are consistently associated with SSTIs, but are expressed only rarely in isolates from more invasive infections[10]. The role of PVL in S. aureus infections remains somewhat unclear. Enhanced production of PVL in S. aureus clinical isolates was associated with less favorable outcomes in a murine skin infection model, where the quantity of PVL production among MRSA and MSSA isolates, while highly variable, remained associated with virulence[11]. Despite strain-to-strain variation, PVL is produced by all S. aureus isolates carrying lukF/S-PV [12], but whether quantitative expression of lukF/S-PV correlates with specific clinical scenarios is unknown. The present study was designed to determine whether levels for lukF/S-PV
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
