Staphylococcus: Difference between revisions

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''Staphylococcus Aureus'' is responsible for various diseases including: mild skin infections (impetigo, folliculitis), invasive diseases (would infections, osteomyelitis, bacteremia with metastatic complications), and toxin mediated diseases (food poisoning, toxic shock syndrome or TSS, scaled skin syndrome).
''Staphylococcus Aureus'' is the most common cause of ''staph'' infections and is responsible for various diseases including: mild skin infections (impetigo, folliculitis, etc.), invasive diseases (wound infections, osteomyelitis, bacteremia with metastatic complications, etc.), and toxin mediated diseases (food poisoning, toxic shock syndrome or TSS, scaled skin syndrome, etc.).


''Staphylococcus'' usually only infects immunocompromised humans, and is an extremely versatile pathogen. Infections usually remain localized at the point of entry by host defenses. S.'' aureus'' is one of the major causes of hospital-aquired infection. Foreign bodies, such as sutures, indwelling catheters, and implanted joints, are extremely susceptible to ''Staphylococcus epidermidis'' colonization, and often serve as the point of entry for infection. Another common path of infection is the respiratory tract, where the bacterium causes pneumonia. By forming biofilms ''Staphylococcus epidermidis'' is resistant to antibiotics, antibodies, and phagocytosis, and can serve as a reservoir for antibiotic resistant genes that can be transferred to other bacteria. Other diseases caused by staphylococci include boils, sinusitis, emesis, diarrhea, endocarditis, scalded skin syndrome, osteomyelitis, urinary tract infection, and toxic shock syndrome. During the 1970s a strain of ''Staphylococcus aureus'' resistant to the antibiotic methicillin, was isolated and consequently vancomycin (the most powerful antibiotic in our arsenal) became the primary antibiotic used to combat staphylococcus infection. In 1997 a strain of ''S. aureus'' resistant to vancomycin was isolated, and people are once again exposed to the threat of untreatable staphylococcus infection. The sequencing of the ''S. aureus'' genome will hopefully provide insight into how the organism generates such a variety of toxins, and aid researchers in developing ways of combating the versatile bacterium.
''Staphylococcus'' usually only infects immunocompromised humans, and is an extremely versatile pathogen. Infections usually remain localized at the point of entry by host defenses. S.'' aureus'' is one of the major causes of hospital-acquired infection. Foreign bodies, such as sutures, indwelling catheters, and implanted joints, are extremely susceptible to ''Staphylococcus epidermidis'' colonization, and often serve as the point of entry for infection. Another common path of infection is the respiratory tract, where the bacterium causes pneumonia. By forming biofilms ''Staphylococcus epidermidis'' is resistant to antibiotics, antibodies, and phagocytosis, and can serve as a reservoir for antibiotic resistant genes that can be transferred to other bacteria. Other diseases caused by staphylococci include boils, sinusitis, emesis, diarrhea, endocarditis, scalded skin syndrome, osteomyelitis, urinary tract infection, and toxic shock syndrome.
 
In the late 1970's an epidemic of toxic shock syndrome (TSS T-1) occured. This was brought about by a change in host environment, encouraged by a creation of modern technology otherwise known as the super-absorbent tampon. This new product that had swept the nation in modern convenience actually helped to create a new nutrient-rich surface area for many bacteria to thrive off of, "S. Aureus" being a major resident. However, TSS as a result of tampons can be easily avoided by correctly using tampons (read instructions and warning labels listed with tampon products).
 
The first serious emergence of antibiotic resistance staph occurred with a specific strain we refer to as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, also known as MRSA. this strain expressed a modified penicillin-binding protein encoded by ''mecA'' gene.
 
During the 1970s a strain of ''Staphylococcus aureus'' resistant to the antibiotic methicillin, was isolated and consequently vancomycin (the most powerful antibiotic in our arsenal) became the primary antibiotic used to combat staphylococcus infection. In 1997 a strain of ''S. aureus'' resistant to vancomycin was isolated, and people are once again exposed to the threat of untreatable staphylococcus infection. The sequencing of the ''S. aureus'' genome will hopefully provide insight into how the organism generates such a variety of toxins, and aid researchers in developing ways of combating the versatile bacterium.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 05:11, 3 May 2007

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Staphylococcus

Classification

Higher order taxa:

Bacteria; Firmicutes; Bacilli; Bacillales; Staphylococcaceae; Staphylococcus

Species:

Staphylococcus 9IX/A01/138, S. arlettae, S. aureus, S. auricularis, S. capitis, S. caprae, S. carnosus, S. chromogenes, S. cohnii, S. condimenti, S. croceolyticus, S. delphini, S. epidermidis, S. equorum, S. faecalis, S. felis, S. fleurettii, S. gallinarum, S. haemolyticus, S. hominis, S. hyicus, S. intermedius, S. kloosii, S. lentus, S. lugdunensis, S. lutrae, S. lyticans, S. muscae, S. nepalensis, S. pasteuri, S. pettenkoferi, S. piscifermentans, S. pseudintermedius, S. saccharolyticus, S. saprophyticus, S. schleiferi, S. sciuri, S. simiae, S. simulans, S. succinus, S. vitulinus, S. warneri, S. xylosus

NCBI: Taxonomy Genomes

Description and Significance

As a pathogen, it is important to understand the virulence mechanisms of Staphylococcus in order to successfully combat the pathogen. Strains of Staphylococcus resistant to our most powerful antibiotics have increased pressure on researchers to find alternative, more effective ways of fighting Staphylococcus.

Genome Structure

There are currently 11 genome projects, 9 of which are complete and 2 are in process. The Staphylococcus aureus genome, which is the most common species amoung the genome projects, is about 2.8 Mega-base pairs long with approximately 2,600 open reading frames, comprising 84.5% of the genome. It has a G+C content of about 33%, and a single plasmid about 25,000 base pairs in length with a G+C content of 28.7%. The genes for antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus are located on plasmids or other similar structures. Staphylococcus epidermidis, which has two genomes sequenced in the speices, is about 2.5 Mega-base pairs long with 1,681 open reading frames and its G+C content is 32%. Staphylcoccus haemolyticus is about 2.68 Mega-base pairs long with a G+C content of 32%.

Cell Structure and Metabolism

Staphylococcus aureus. From the University of South Carolina.

Staphylococci are spherical Gram-positive bacteria, which are immobile and form grape-like clusters. They form bunches because they divide in two planes as opposed to their close relatives streptococci which, although they are similarly shaped, form chains because they divide only in one plane. Staphylococci are facultative anaerobes. They mainly grow by aerobic respiration, or fermentation that produces lactic acid.

There are two different types of colonies formed. Those formed by S. aureus are yellow and become rather large on a rich medium, while those of S. epidermidi are white and form relatively small colonies, even on a rich medium.

Ecology

Staphylococcus Aureus is a normal inhabitant of the skin and mucous membranes in the nose of a healthy human, while S. epidermidis inhabits only the skin of healthy humans.

S. Aureus is infectious to both animals and humans. Approximately 30% of the normal healthy population is affected by S. Aureus as it asymptomatically colonizes on human hosts.

Pathology

Staphylococcus Aureus is the most common cause of staph infections and is responsible for various diseases including: mild skin infections (impetigo, folliculitis, etc.), invasive diseases (wound infections, osteomyelitis, bacteremia with metastatic complications, etc.), and toxin mediated diseases (food poisoning, toxic shock syndrome or TSS, scaled skin syndrome, etc.).

Staphylococcus usually only infects immunocompromised humans, and is an extremely versatile pathogen. Infections usually remain localized at the point of entry by host defenses. S. aureus is one of the major causes of hospital-acquired infection. Foreign bodies, such as sutures, indwelling catheters, and implanted joints, are extremely susceptible to Staphylococcus epidermidis colonization, and often serve as the point of entry for infection. Another common path of infection is the respiratory tract, where the bacterium causes pneumonia. By forming biofilms Staphylococcus epidermidis is resistant to antibiotics, antibodies, and phagocytosis, and can serve as a reservoir for antibiotic resistant genes that can be transferred to other bacteria. Other diseases caused by staphylococci include boils, sinusitis, emesis, diarrhea, endocarditis, scalded skin syndrome, osteomyelitis, urinary tract infection, and toxic shock syndrome.

In the late 1970's an epidemic of toxic shock syndrome (TSS T-1) occured. This was brought about by a change in host environment, encouraged by a creation of modern technology otherwise known as the super-absorbent tampon. This new product that had swept the nation in modern convenience actually helped to create a new nutrient-rich surface area for many bacteria to thrive off of, "S. Aureus" being a major resident. However, TSS as a result of tampons can be easily avoided by correctly using tampons (read instructions and warning labels listed with tampon products).

The first serious emergence of antibiotic resistance staph occurred with a specific strain we refer to as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, also known as MRSA. this strain expressed a modified penicillin-binding protein encoded by mecA gene.

During the 1970s a strain of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to the antibiotic methicillin, was isolated and consequently vancomycin (the most powerful antibiotic in our arsenal) became the primary antibiotic used to combat staphylococcus infection. In 1997 a strain of S. aureus resistant to vancomycin was isolated, and people are once again exposed to the threat of untreatable staphylococcus infection. The sequencing of the S. aureus genome will hopefully provide insight into how the organism generates such a variety of toxins, and aid researchers in developing ways of combating the versatile bacterium.

References

Bacteriology at UW-Madison: Staphylococcus

Gill S.R., Founts D. E., ARcher G. L., Mongodis E. F., Deboy R. T., Ravel J., Paulsen I. T., Kolonay J. F., Brinkac L., Beanan M., Dodson R. J., Daughtery S. C., Madupu R., Angiuoli S. V., Durkin A. S., Haft D. H., Vamathevan J., Khouri H., Utterback T., Lee C., Dimitrov G., Jiang L., Qin H., Weidman J., Tran K., Kang K., Hance I. R., Nelson K. E., Fraser C. M. "Insights on evolution of virulence and resistance from the complete genome analysis of an early methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain and a biofilm-producing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis strain." Journal of bacteriology 2005 Apr;187(7):2426-38.

HGM 2002: Comparison of genomes between Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus

Kuroda, M. et al. 2001. Whole genome sequencing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The Lancet, 357: 1225-1240

Newton Science Magazine: The Bug Stops Here

Princeton University: Staphylococcus

Sanger Institute: Staphylococcus aureus

The Nemours Foundation: Staphylococcus aureus

University of South Carolina: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococci