Phenotypic and genotypic virulence features of staphylococcal strains isolated from difficult-to-treat skin and soft tissue infections

PLoS One. 2021 Feb 2;16(2):e0246478. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246478. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Chronic infections represent an important burden on the healthcare system and have a significant impact on the patients' quality of life. While Staphylococcus spp. are commensal bacteria, they can become pathogenic, leading to various types of infections. In this study we aimed to characterize the virulence profiles of staphylococcal strains involved in difficult-to-treat skin and soft tissue infections, from both phenotypic and genotypic points of view. Phenotypic ability of the strains to secrete soluble virulence factors was assessed by a culturing dependent assay and their capacity to develop biofilms on inert substrate was screened by an adapted crystal violet microtiter method. We also tested the presence of several virulence genes by PCR. Most of the studied strains were isolated from purulent secretions of acne lesions and frequently secreted two or three soluble virulence factors. Most frequently secreted soluble virulence factors were caseinase (89%), lipase (71%) and lecithinase (67%). Almost half of the strains produced a well-represented biofilm. The molecular characterization showed the presence of the genes cna, hlg, clfA, and clfB. Staphylococcal strains that produce difficult-to-treat skin and soft tissue infections seem to be characterized by an enhanced ability to produce different soluble virulence factors and to develop biofilms in vitro. Further studies need to be developed in other Staphylococcus spp. infections in order to confirm this hypothesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biofilms
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Lipase / genetics
  • Lipase / metabolism
  • Metalloendopeptidases / genetics
  • Metalloendopeptidases / metabolism
  • Phospholipases / genetics
  • Phospholipases / metabolism
  • Soft Tissue Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Skin Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus / genetics
  • Staphylococcus / metabolism
  • Staphylococcus / pathogenicity*
  • Virulence
  • Virulence Factors

Substances

  • Virulence Factors
  • Phospholipases
  • Lipase
  • Metalloendopeptidases
  • caseinase

Grants and funding

M.C.C. ”Selection and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes from wastewater treatment plants into the aquatic environment and clinical reservoirs”; Grant number: PN-III-P4-ID-PCCF2016-0114. Funder: Ministry of Education and Research, https://uefiscdi.gov.ro/ M.P. Grant number: 12.659/20.05.2019; Funder: University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", Bucharest Romania; https://umfcd.ro/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.