Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Plasmid analysis of 26 staphylococcal species by a rapid microscale technique
1Department of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, USA.
Objective:
Evaluate a plasmid typing technique for a diverse group of staphylococci.
Design:
In vitro testing on known isolates.
Setting:
University hospital.
Intervention:
The plasmid content of 195 isolates representing 26 staphylococcal species was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis following lysostaphin-alkaline-SDS lysis, with and without acetone treatment.
Results:
Isolates yielded plasmid profiles with 0 to 7 extra-chromosomal bands (median, 1; 1.5); 171 (88%) had a profile with at least 1 band. Species with more than one isolate available for testing showed considerable diversity of plasmid profiles, except for Staphylococcus haemolyticus.
Conclusions:
The ease of the procedure and the diversity of plasmid profiles within each species examined suggests that plasmid profiling is an accessible and useful epidemiologic tool applicable to most staphylococcal species by epidemiologic units or clinical laboratories.
