1. Distribution of four capsular serotypes of Enterococcus faecalis among clinical isolates from different geographical origins and infection sites.
- Author
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Hufnagel M, Carey VJ, Baldassarri L, Reinert RR, and Huebner J
- Subjects
- Bacterial Typing Techniques, Enterococcus faecalis isolation & purification, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Germany epidemiology, Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections microbiology, Humans, Italy epidemiology, Japan epidemiology, Organ Specificity, Serotyping, United States epidemiology, Bacterial Capsules immunology, Enterococcus faecalis classification, Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections epidemiology
- Abstract
Background: Enterococci possess capsular polysaccharide antigens that are the targets of opsonic antibodies. These antibodies are potential candidates for development as immunotherapy., Material and Methods: The present study analyzes the distribution of four capsular serotypes within a collection of 157 isolates of Enterococcus faecalis from four countries with different sites of clinical infection., Results: By using a capsular polysaccharide-specific ELISA, 42% of the isolates were grouped into one of four serogroups, and another 9% showed cross-reactivity between two serotype-specific sera. Heterogeneity of serotype distribution by both geographical origin and infection site was observed., Conclusion: Half of the strain collection could be typed with four serotype-specific sera. No serotype from a given country or infection site clearly predominated.
- Published
- 2006
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