The eap Gene as a Novel Target for Specific Identification of Staphylococcus aureus

1 2 The cell surface-associated extracellular adherence protein (Eap) mediates adherence of 3 Staphylococcus aureus to host extracellular matrix components, and inhibits inflammation, 4 wound healing and angiogenesis. A well-characterized collection of S. aureus and non5 S. aureus staphylococcal isolates (n = 813) was tested for the presence of the Eap-encoding 6 gene (eap) by PCR to investigate the eap gene as a specific diagnostic tool for identification 7 of S. aureus. Whereas all 597 S. aureus isolates were eap-positive, this gene was not 8 detectable in 216 non-S. aureus staphylococci comprising 47 different species and subspecies 9 of coagulase-negative staphylococci and non-S. aureus coagulase positive/variable 10 staphylococci. Furthermore, non-S. aureus isolates did not express Eap homologs, as verified 11 on transcriptional and protein levels. Based on these data, the sensitivity and specificity of the 12 newly developed PCR targeting the eap gene were both 100 %. Thus, the unique occurrence 13 of Eap in S. aureus offers a promising tool particularly suitable for molecular diagnostics of 14 this pathogen. 15 AC CE PT ED on N ovem er 3, 2017 by gest ht://jcm .sm .rg/ D ow nladed fom