Analisi del fenotipo e genotipo di virulenza di diversi ceppi di Enterococccus faecium e Enterococcus faecalis

Enterococcus spp. are widely diffuse in the environment, within the human body they are normal commensal of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract and vagina, such enviroments are complex, feeding-rich and oxigen-poor. Enterococci became one of the most frequent cause of acquired nosocomial infections world-wide (they are responsible about 16% of nosocomial infections). The molecular mechanism of virulence of these bacteria is still not completely understood. The aim of this work was to characterise phenotypically different strains of E. faecalis and E. faecium isolated in Sardinia (Italy) by their property to adhere to different epithelial cell lines (Vero and Caco2 cells) and to associate their phenotype to the presence of known virulence genes which have been searched within their genomes by PCR. Amplification of the following genes was perforrned: The aggregation substance AS, the surface protein gene esp, the accessory colonisation factor ace, the E. faecalis endocarditis antigen efaA and gelatinase gel-E.