PULSED-FIELD GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS OF THE GENOMIC RESTRICTION FRAGMENTSOF COAGULASE-NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI

The genomes of 47 coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains assigned t o different species were analysed by pulsed-field electrophoresis. The strains were clustered on the basis of their similarity in the SmaI r estriction patterns into various groups, each group consisting of the type strain and the strains whose SmaI restriction patterns were simil ar to that of the type strain. The SmaI restriction groups seem to cor respond to the following species: Staphylococcus warneri, S. hominis, S. xylosus, S. lugdunensis, S. kloosii, S. haemolyticus, S. lentus, S. cohnii, S. equorum, S. chromogenes, S. saprophyticus, S. simulans, S. carnosus, S. capitis and S. auricularis. The species S. sciuri, S. ca seolyticus, S. gallinarum, S. epidermidis and S. schleiferi were repre sented only by their type strains and showed no similarity in their Sm aI restriction patterns neither to each other nor to all the other spe cies investigated here. Thus, the classification of coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains into the above species seems to be confirmed a lso by genome restriction analysis carried out by pulsed-field gel ele ctrophoresis.