B1.2 Staphylococcus aureus Flashcards
What is the coagulase status of Staphylococcus aureus?
True coagulase-positive
Which species of staphylococci is the most virulent?
Staphylococcus aureus.
On which media does Staphylococcus aureus grow well?
Nutrient Agar (NA) and Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB).
Describe the appearance of Staphylococcus aureus colonies on solid media
Round, smooth, opaque, and butyrous
What is the appearance of Staphylococcus aureus colonies on Blood Agar Plate (BAP)?
Golden yellow color and β-hemolytic
What salt concentration is used to cultivate Staphylococcus aureus, and what does this indicate?
7.5 to 10% NaCl; indicates halophilic nature
What infections is Staphylococcus aureus responsible for?
Skin, wound, and deep tissue infections
What type of teichoic acid is present in the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus?
Ribitol teichoic acid.
Virulence Factors related to staphylococcus aureus
Antigenic Structures
Enzymes
Toxins
Antigenic Structures present in S. aureus
Teichoic Acid
Peptidoglycan
Protein A
Clumping Factor
Capsular Polysaccharide
What is the role of peptidoglycan in Staphylococcus aureus?
Protects from lysis and aids in adherence
What is the unique group-specific antigen in Staphylococcus aureus?
Protein A.
Prevents antibody-mediated phagocytosis by competing for the Fc portion of antibodies
Protein A
Causes clumping of staphylococci in the presence of plasma
clumping factor
What is the role of capsular polysaccharide in Staphylococcus aureus?
Protects from phagocytosis
ENZYMES present in S. aureus
COAGULASE (STAPHYLOCOAGULASE)
HYALURONIDASE (SPREADING FACTOR)
STAPHYLOKINASE (FIBRINOLYSIN)
LIPASE (Fat-splitting Enzyme)
DEOXYRIBONUCLEASE (DNASE) and PHOSPHATASE
PROTEASE
GELATINASE
β-LACTAMASE
Coagulates fibrinogen in plasma to promote fibrin layer formation around abscesses.
coagulase (staphylocoagulase)
Name the two types of coagulase in Staphylococcus aureus
Cell-bound (clumping factor) and unbound (free) coagulase
bound to the cell wall and clots human, rabbit or pig plasma
Cell-bound Coagulase or Clumping Factor
extracellular enzymes not bound to the cell wall and cause clot formation when bacterial cells are incubated with plasma
Unbound or Free Coagulase
Hydrolyzes hyaluronic acid, permitting the spread of infection
hyaluronidase
Dissolves fibrin clots (fibrinolysin)
staphylokinase
Acts on lipids on the skin surface, aiding in the formation of furuncles, carbuncles, and boils
produced by both coagulase (+) and coagulase (-) staphylococci
lipase
Lowers viscosity of exudates and destroys DNA
DNase and phosphatase
Which enzyme in Staphylococcus aureus breaks down β-lactam drugs
β-Lactamase
TOXINS in S. aureus
CYTOLYTIC TOXINS
ENTEROTOXINS
TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME TOXIN-1(TSST-1)
EXFOLIATIVE TOXIN
CYTOLYTIC TOXINS examples
Hemolysins and Leukocidins
4 Types Hemolysins and the leukocidin found in S. aureus
α-Hemolysin
β-Hemolysin (Sphingomyelinase C)
δ-Hemolysin
γ-Hemolysin
Staphylococcal Leukocidin/ Panton-Valentine leukocidin
Which hemolysin in Staphylococcus aureus causes severe tissue damage
α-Hemolysin
Act as heat-stable exotoxins causing food poisoning
enterotoxins
Which toxin is associated with Toxic Shock Syndrome in Staphylococcus aureus?
Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1 (TSST-1).
What does exfoliative toxin cause in Staphylococcus aureus infections
Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (Ritter’s disease) and bullous impetigo
damage RBC, platelets and macrophages and cause severe tissue damage
Predominant hemolysin
α-Hemolysin
acts on sphingomyelin in the plasma membrane of RBC
β-Hemolysin (Sphingomyelinase C)
aka“hot-cold” lysine : enhanced hemolytic activity on incubation at 37° C (heat labile) and subsequent exposure to cold (4° C)
β-Hemolysin (Sphingomyelinase C)
exhibited in the CAMP test
lethal and dermonecrotic
β-Hemolysin (Sphingomyelinase C)
less toxic to cells than either α-hemolysin or β-hemolysin
produced by all S. aureus strain that cause RBC injury in culture and produce edematous lesions
δ-Hemolysin
associated with Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)
γ-Hemolysin
exotoxin lethal to polymorphonuclear leukocytes
Pore forming exotoxin that suppress phagocytosis and associated with severe cutaneous infections and necrotizing pneumonia
associated with community-acquired staphylococcal infections
Staphylococcal Leukocidin/ Panton-Valentine leukocidin
heat-stable exotoxin: 100° C for 30 minutes
resistant to hydrolysis by gastric and jejunal enzymes
act as neurotoxins that stimulate vomiting through the vagus nerve
ENTEROTOXINS
Enterotoxins are produced by _____% of S. aureus isolates
30% to 50%
Enterotoxins A, B, and D causes
Staphylococcal food poisoning
Enterotoxins B and C and sometimes G and I causes
TSS
Enterotoxin B causes
Staphylococcal Pseudomembranous Enterocolitis (contaminated milk products)
TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME TOXIN-1(TSST-1) is also known as
ENTEROTOXIN F or PYROGENIC EXOTOXIN C
menstruating-associated TSS= TSS associated with tampon use
chromosomal-mediated toxin
SUPERANTIGEN stimulating T-cell proliferation and production of a large amount of cytokines
TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME TOXIN-1(TSST-1)
TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME TOXIN-1(TSST-1) low concentrations=
higher concentrations=
low concentrations= leakage by endothelial cells;
higher concentrations= cytotoxic
EXFOLIATIVE TOXIN aka
EPIDERMOLYTIC TOXIN A and B or EXFOLIATIN
serotypes A and B
Serine protease that divides the intrcellular bridges of the epidermis and causes excessive sloughing of the epidermis (stratum granulosum)
causes STAPHYLOCOCCAL SCALDED SKIN SYNDROME referred to as RITTER’S DISEASE
implicated in BULLOUS IMPETIGO
EXFOLIATIVE TOXIN
RELATED INFECTIONS AND DISEASES S. aureus
Cutaneous Infections
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Food Poisoning
Staphylococcal Bacteremia
Staphylococcal Osteomyelitis
Staphylococcal Pneumonia
Septic Arthritis
Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
UTI
Cutaneous Infections caused by S. aureus
Folliculitis
Furuncles (Boils)
Carbuncles
Bullous Impetigo
Scalded Skin Syndrome
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)