The Bacterial Insertion Sequence Element IS 256 Occurs Preferentially in Nosocomial Staphylococcus epidermidis Isolates: Association with Biofilm Formation and Resistance to Aminoglycosides

• DOI: 10.1128/iai.72.2.1210-1215.2004
• Publication Date: 2004-01-24T23:46:23Z
• Authors: Svetlana Kozitskaya; Seung-Hak Cho; Katja Dietrich; Reinhard Marre; Kurt Naber; Wilma Ziebuhr
• Keywords: Insertion sequence

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a normal constituent of the healthy human microflora, but it also most common cause nosocomial infections associated with use indwelling medical devices. Isolates from device-associated are known for their pronounced phenotypic and genetic variability, in this study we searched factors that might contribute to flexibility. We show mutator phenotypes, which exhibit elevated spontaneous mutation rates, rare among both pathogenic commensal S. strains. However, revealed that, contrast those strains, genomes clinical strains carry multiple copies insertion sequence IS256, while other typical staphylococcal sequences, such as IS257 IS1272, distributed equally saprophytic isolates. Moreover, detection IS256 was found be biofilm formation presence icaADBC operon well gentamicin oxacillin resistance The data suggest characteristic element genome multiresistant isolates involved flexibility adaptation