What does the mecA gene do?
mecA is a gene found in bacterial cells which allows them to be resistant to antibiotics such as methicillin, penicillin and other penicillin-like antibiotics.
How Protein A contributes to the virulence of S. aureus?
Staphylococcal protein A (SpA), a cell wall anchored protein of Staphylococcus aureus, has the ability to interact with several host components, possibly indicating a role as a virulence factor in S. aureus infections. The wild-type strain caused more in vitro spleen cell proliferation than the SpA-deficient strain.
Are antibiotic resistance genes virulence factors?
Therefore, although antibiotic resistance is not in itself a virulence factor, in certain situations it is a key factor in development of infection, and it may be considered a virulence-like factor in specific ecological niches which antibiotic-resistant bacteria are able to colonize.
Which among the following virulence factors of Staphylococcus aureus inhibits Opsonization?
aureus produces virulence factors that inhibit opsonization by immunoglobulins. Protein A, encoded by the spa gene, is one of the better characterized virulence factors produced by S. aureus that inhibits neutrophil phagocytosis.
What are the virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori?
The virulence factors of H. pylori can be categorized to be related with 3 major pathogenic processes, including colonization, immune escape and disease induction (Table 1). The virulence factors responsible for establishing colonization include urease, flagella, chemotaxis system, and adhesins [2, 3].
What is blaZ gene?
blaZ is an 846-bp gene controlled by two regulatory genes (antirepressor blaR1 and repressor blaI) [3]. After exposure to β-lactams, blaR1 (transmembrane sensor–transducer) undergoes autocatalytic cleavage, promoting the cleavage of blaI and leading to the transcription of blaZ [1,4].
How is the mecA gene involved in the mechanism of resistance?
The epidemiologically most important mechanism of antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is associated with mecA–an acquired gene encoding an extra penicillin-binding protein (PBP2a) with low affinity to virtually all β-lactams.
Which virulence factors produced Staphylococcus aureus allows the bacterium to be coated in fibrin that protects it from phagocytes?
However, if bacteria release coagulase into the bloodstream, the fibrinogen-to-fibrin cascade is triggered in the absence of blood vessel damage. The resulting clot coats the bacteria in fibrin, protecting the bacteria from exposure to phagocytic immune cells circulating in the bloodstream.
Are antibiotic resistant bacteria more virulent?
Antibiotic resistance may also be associated with increased virulence or transmission and may play in role in global spread and dominance of certain resistant bacteria, pending the plasmid type.
Can bacteria become virulent?
From friend to foe: How benign bacteria evolve into virulent pathogens. Summary: Bacteria can evolve rapidly to adapt to environmental change. When the “environment” is the immune response of an infected host, this evolution can turn harmless bacteria into life-threatening pathogens.
How does DNase act as a virulence factor?
We hypothesized that DNase activity contributed to virulence of invasive GAS strains by allowing the organism to escape NET-mediated killing. A well-recognized phenotype shared by all strains of GAS is the elaboration of one or more extracellular deoxyribonucleases (DNases) 2, 3.