Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025
A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues
Published on: February 19, 2019
Importance of Toxin Genes and Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Open Reading Frame Type Analyses for Severe
Noriko Takeuchi1, Naruhiko Ishiwada1
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Japan.
Abstract:
This study analyzed 26 Staphylococcus aureus strains, including 16 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 10 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), collected from eight medical institutions in the Chiba Prefecture that requested a toxin gene analysis between 2015 and 2021. A total of 14 Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) positive strains were identified, including MSSA. PVL-positive strains were classified into seven types according to polymerase chain reaction-based open reading frame typing (POT); of these types, three POT MRSA strains have not been previously reported, and one has been previously reported as PVL-negative. Some strains tested positive for both PVL and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1. One POT type was identified in both PVL-positive and PVL-negative strains. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the regional spread of highly pathogenic S. aureus strains based on the POT method in children from multiple medical institutions. This method is useful for estimating the spread of toxin gene-carrying strains in the community owing to its association with toxin genes. As the number of PVL-positive strains in Japan increases, it is important to analyze the isolates of severe S. aureus infections in children by combining toxin gene analyses with the POT method.
Insights
This study identified new types of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive Staphylococcus aureus strains, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), in Japan. The polymerase chain reaction-based open reading frame typing (POT) method helps track the spread of these highly pathogenic bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen.
- Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) poses a growing public health threat.
- Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a key virulence factor associated with severe S. aureus infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the genetic diversity and regional spread of toxin gene-carrying Staphylococcus aureus strains.
- To investigate the utility of the polymerase chain reaction-based open reading frame typing (POT) method for tracking S. aureus.
- To identify novel PVL-positive S. aureus strains and their characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 26 Staphylococcus aureus strains (16 MRSA, 10 MSSA) from eight medical institutions.
- Toxin gene analysis, including detection of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL).
- Polymerase chain reaction-based open reading frame typing (POT) for strain classification.
Main Results:
- 14 out of 26 strains were PVL-positive.
- Seven distinct POT types were identified among PVL-positive strains.
- Three novel POT MRSA strains were identified; one was previously reported as PVL-negative.
- Some strains harbored both PVL and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 genes.
Conclusions:
- The POT method is effective for estimating the community spread of toxin gene-carrying S. aureus strains.
- This study reports the first regional spread analysis of highly pathogenic S. aureus using the POT method in children.
- Continued surveillance combining toxin gene analysis and POT typing is crucial for managing severe S. aureus infections in Japan.
