fbl Gene as a Species-Specific Target for Staphylococcus lugdunensis Identification

Abstract

Staphylococcus lugdunensis is an unusually virulent coagulase-negative species, associated with severe infections The present report describes the development of a single-step, species-specific PCR protocol for S. lugdunensis identification fbl gene, encoding a fibrinogen-binding adhesin, was exploited and assessed as a suitable nucleic acid target The gene was detected in all 17 S lugdunensis isolates examined, while no amplification product was obtained from 98 isolates representing 11 staphylococcal and 17 nonstaphylococcal species Forty-seven percent of the S. lugdunensis strains produced a positive slide coagulase reaction, which is consistent with varying levels of Fbl protein expression within the species J. Clin Lab Anal 24:119-122, 2010. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc