OBJECTIVES To investigate the potential use of DNA techniques in epidemiological diagnosis of Bacillus cereus food poisoning. SUBJECTS Fifty six B. cereus isolates from milk were studied. DESIGN The 56 B. cereus isolates were characterised into enterotoxin positive (27 isolates) and enterotoxin negative (29 isolates) using reverse passive latex agglutination technique. SETTING Plasmid and...

The genes encoding for beta-lactamase (bla+) and resistance to metallic ions (cadmium, mercury, lead, arsenate, and arsenite) were located in a 56.2-kilobase plasmid, pZA10, isolated from a clinical strain, Staphylococcus aureus 6344. This strain produced enterotoxin B and enterotoxin C1. Elimination of pZA10 by either sodium dodecyl sulfate or heat treatment (43 degrees C) resulted in the loss...

The production of enterotoxins A, B, and C by nine strains of Staphylococcus aureus has been studied under controlled conditions in a fermenter. The strain to strain differences between staphylococci producing a specific enterotoxin were very marked. Increasing aeration in shake flasks improved both growth and production of all extracellular proteins measured other than that of enterotoxin C, t...

The effect of pH on the thermal inactivation of staphylococcal enterotoxin A was investigated. Analysis of heated toxin by immunodiffusion in gel indicated that enterotoxin A in beef bouillon was inactivated faster at pH 5.3 than at pH 6.2. The z values (slopes) for the heat inactivation curves at pH 6.2 and 5.3 were 49.5 and 55 F (about 27 and 30 C), respectively. Enterotoxin produced and heat...

OBJECTIVES To identify the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from bovine milk, and examine the genetic relatedness between MRSA from bovine milk and MRSA from human isolates. METHODS Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed on MRSA isolated from bovine milk. PCR and sequencing analysis were performed t...

Up to approximately 50 mug of staphylococcal enterotoxin A per plate was produced by cellophane-over-agar cultures. Enterotoxin was determined by a latex agglutination technique.

BACKGROUND We characterized 100 USA100 epidemic MRSA from individuals in the community with no known healthcare-associated risk factors. FINDINGS Molecular epidemiology demonstrated 21 pulsed-field types and six spa types. SCCmec typing demonstrated that all of the strains possess the type II cassette. The staphylococcal enterotoxin D virulence gene was also present. CONCLUSION Characteriza...

A simple homogeneous enzyme immune assay was developed for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B by a conjugate of beta-amylase coupled with the enterotoxin.

Culture supernatant fluids from 26 (23.6%) monkey feeding test-positive Staphylococcus aureus strains, negative for enterotoxins by gel diffusion, were positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for one or more of the identified enterotoxins. Staphylococcal enterotoxin D (SED) was produced by 23 (88.5%) strains, SED and SEA were produced in two strains, and SED and SEC were produced in one s...

OBJECTIVE The role of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in food poisoning is well known, however its role in other diseases remains to be explored. The aim of this study is the molecular screening and characterization of the SEB gene in clinically isolated strains. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this experimentally study, 300 Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains isolated from clinical samples...