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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Species-specific diagnostic marker for rapid identification of Staphylococcus aureus
Zhan-Min Liu1, Xian-Ming Shi, Feng Pan
1Department of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 201101, PR China. zhmliu119@yahoo.com.cn
Abstract:
Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterial pathogen that has emerged as an increasingly important health concern. Following the recent publication of the genome sequences of 9 S. aureus strains (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/lproks.cgi), a gene of S. aureus that relates signal transduction as a target for rapid detection and identification of the pathogen has been investigated. By sequence analysis of S. aureus signal transduction genes from the complete genome of S. aureus ATCC N315 and their comparison with other DNA sequences using GenBank BLAST searches, we identified a unique gene, vicK. Polymerase chain reaction primers (vicK1 and vicK2) derived from this gene allowed amplification of a 289-bp DNA fragment only from S. aureus and not from other Staphylococcus species and other common bacteria tested. Besides offering an additional target for specific confirmation of S. aureus, further analysis of the signal transduction gene vicK and its related protein product may lead to new insights into the molecular mechanisms of S. aureus maintenance and pathogenicity.
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