Molecular characterization of Enterococcus spp. clinical isolates from Cairo, Egypt

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genetics
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Enterococci cause severe infections like bacteremia and endocarditis.
• Virulence factors such as haemolysin and gelatinase contribute to enterococcal pathogenicity.
• Antibiotic resistance, particularly to vancomycin, is a growing concern in Enterococcus infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of virulence factors in Enterococcus species.
• To determine the antibiotic resistance patterns, focusing on vancomycin.
• To explore the relationship between virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance.

Main Methods:

• Clinical isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed.
• Virulence factors were assessed via phenotypic and molecular methods.
• Bioinformatics analysis identified potential horizontal gene transfer events.

Main Results:

• No correlation was observed between the presence of virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance profiles.
• Virulence genes were primarily disseminated through transposons, as indicated by bioinformatics analysis.
• Environmental factors may influence virulence factor expression in enterococci.

Conclusions:

• Horizontal gene transfer is a significant mechanism for the spread of both resistance and virulence genes in Enterococcus.
• Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for combating enterococcal infections.