eap Gene as novel target for specific identification of Staphylococcus aureus

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Pathogen Diagnostics

Background:

• Extracellular adherence protein (Eap) from Staphylococcus aureus mediates host interactions and influences inflammation and healing.
• Accurate identification of S. aureus is crucial for effective clinical management and infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the eap gene as a specific diagnostic marker for Staphylococcus aureus identification.
• To assess the prevalence of the eap gene in S. aureus and related staphylococcal species.

Main Methods:

• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to detect the eap gene in 813 staphylococcal isolates.
• Transcriptional and protein analyses were performed to confirm the absence of Eap homologs in non-S. aureus species.

Main Results:

• The eap gene was detected in all 597 Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
• The eap gene was absent in all 216 non-S. aureus staphylococcal isolates, including 47 different species.
• PCR targeting the eap gene demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity for S. aureus detection.

Conclusions:

• The eap gene is a unique and reliable molecular marker for the specific identification of Staphylococcus aureus.
• The developed PCR assay offers a highly sensitive and specific tool for the molecular diagnostics of S. aureus.