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Does aggregation substance of Enterococcus faecalis contribute to development of endocarditis?
M Berti1, G Candiani, A Kaufhold
1Lepetit Research Center, Medical Microbiology Dept., Gerenzano, Italy.
Infection
|March 20, 1998
Summary
Aggregation substance (AS) from Enterococcus faecalis aids bacterial binding to kidney cells but is not crucial for causing infective endocarditis (EN). Studies show AS presence doesn't significantly correlate with EN in human or animal models.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Enterococcus faecalis utilizes aggregation substance (AS), encoded by sex pheromone plasmids, for binding to eukaryotic cells.
- AS is an adhesin implicated in bacterial interactions with host tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of aggregation substance (AS) in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis (EN) caused by Enterococcus faecalis.
- To determine if AS is a critical factor in the development of EN.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of AS presence in E. faecalis strains from human EN cases versus well-water isolates.
- Evaluation of AS correlation with EN establishment in a rat animal model.
Main Results:
- Sex pheromone plasmids, and thus the AS gene, were not significantly more prevalent in E. faecalis strains from human EN cases (26%) compared to well-water isolates (18%).
- The presence of the AS adhesin did not correlate with the successful establishment of infective endocarditis in a rat model.
Conclusions:
- Aggregation substance (AS) is not a pivotal factor for Enterococcus faecalis to cause infective endocarditis.
- The role of AS in E. faecalis pathogenesis, particularly in EN, appears limited despite its in vitro binding capabilities.