Expression of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin mRNA among Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Associates with Specific Clinical Presentations

Abstract

Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL; gene designation lukF/S-PV) is likely an important virulence factor for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), as qualitative expression of the protein correlates with severity for specific clinical presentations, including skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). Development of genetic approaches for risk-assessment of patients with S. aureus infections may prove clinically useful, and whether lukF/S-PV gene expression correlates with specific clinical presentations for S. aureus has been largely unexplored. In the present study, we quantified lukS-PV mRNA among 96 S. aureus isolates to determine whether expression levels correlated with specific clinical presentations in adults and children. Expression level of lukS-PV mRNA among isolates from skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) was significantly greater than among isolates from blood stream infection (BSIs), and expression level of lukS-PV mRNA among BSI isolates from children was significantly greater than for BSI isolates among adults. Moreover, expression level of lukS-PV mRNA among community-acquired (CA) isolates was significantly greater than for hospital-acquired (HA) isolates. These data justify additional studies to determine the potential clinical utility for lukS-PV mRNA quantification as a predictive tool for severity of S. aureus infection.

Studies on leukocidins toxins and antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from various clinical sources

“…Regarding lukF gene, it was not expressed by any of the tested isolates. This was in accordance with a study by Yu et al (2013) reporting that the PVL detected by qRT-PCR was expressed in all isolates harboring PVL genes by variable levels suggesting that PVL genes transcription is associated with clinical isolates. Another study showed that PVL genes expression levels are strain dependent, with more than 10-fold variance (Said-Salim et al, 2005).…”

Dry Care Versus Antiseptics for Umbilical Cord Care: A Cluster Randomized Trial

“…The only 3 cases of omphalitis we observed (caused by Staphylococcus aureus) were in the dry care group, but they were easily managed, including the case that presented with Panton-Valentine Leukocidin toxin, which is usually associated with serious bacterial infection. 16 The most frequent bacterium cultured from the umbilical cord was S aureus, as previously described in high-income countries. 4,17,18 In all isolated bacteria, no resistance to usual antibiotic treatment was observed.…”

Panton-Valentine leukocidin in community and hospital-acquiredStaphylococcus aureusstrains

“…PVL is a biocomponent synergohymenotropic cytotoxin associated with furunculosis, severe necrotizing hemorrhagic pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis and other lesions involving the skin and mucosa. [ 15 ] The gene encoding PVL is frequently found in CA-MRSA strains carrying SCCmec -IV. [ 16 ] Since the PVL gene is known to be associated with virulence,[ 17 ] determining the presence of the PVL gene in MRSA strains might be important to early and proper therapy for serious MRSA infections.…”