Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR (RS-PCR)
08:51

Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR (RS-PCR)

Published on: November 4, 2016

The pls gene found in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains is common in clinical isolates of

Katri Juuti1, Salha Ibrahem, Anni Virolainen-Julkunen

  • 1Faculty of Biosciences, General Microbiology, P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 9), University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. katri.juuti@helsinki.fi

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|March 8, 2005
PubMed

Insights

The pls gene, typically found in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), was detected in most human Staphylococcus sciuri isolates. This gene was expressed in S. sciuri, indicating potential implications for antimicrobial resistance research.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) regions are crucial for methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.
  • The pls gene is a component often found within type I SCCmec regions.
  • Staphylococcus sciuri is a species that can be found in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and expression of the pls gene in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus sciuri.
  • To explore the potential for SCCmec elements in Staphylococcus sciuri genomes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 15 human clinical Staphylococcus sciuri isolates.
  • Detection of the pls gene using molecular methods.
  • Assessment of pls gene expression levels.
  • Investigation for the presence of other SCCmec components.

Main Results:

  • The pls gene was identified in 12 out of 15 (80%) Staphylococcus sciuri isolates.
  • Pls gene expression was confirmed in the S. sciuri isolates, albeit at lower levels compared to Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Evidence of other SCCmec-related genetic elements was also found in the S. sciuri genomes.

Conclusions:

  • The pls gene is prevalent in clinical Staphylococcus sciuri isolates.
  • Staphylococcus sciuri possesses the capacity to express the pls gene, suggesting potential roles in its biology.
  • The findings indicate horizontal gene transfer or shared genetic ancestry of SCCmec elements between S. aureus and S. sciuri.

More Related Videos

A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues07:10

A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues

Published on: February 19, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
Phylogenetic Species Concept in Microbiology01:22

Phylogenetic Species Concept in Microbiology

The phylogenetic species concept (PSC) is a framework used to delineate species based on evolutionary relationships, emphasizing shared ancestry and diagnosable genetic traits. Unlike morphological or biological species concepts, the PSC is particularly advantageous for microbial taxonomy, where traditional reproductive or phenotypic criteria often fall short due to the prevalence of asexual reproduction, minimal morphological differentiation, and widespread horizontal gene transfer among...