Y. Nakatomi et J. Sugiyama, A rapid latex agglutination assay for the detection of penicillin-binding protein 2 ', MICROB IMMU, 42(11), 1998, pp. 739-743
A simple and rapid slide latex agglutination assay was developed to detect
penicillin-binding protein 2' (PBP2') from isolates of staphylococi, PBP2'
present in the membranes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MR
SA) or methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MRCNS) was r
apidly extracted by alkaline treatment and, by combining with a slide agglu
tination reaction using latex particles sensitized with monoclonal antibodi
es raised against it, PBP2' could be detected from a single loopful of cell
s taken from agar plates not containing beta-lactum antibiotics within 15 m
in. In a study of clinical isolates previously characterized as either MRSA
or methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) by antibiotic susc
eptibility testing, 231 specimens of 232 MRSA were PBP2' positive by latex
agglutination, and the 87 specimens of MSSA were all negative. One specimen
identified as MRSA by susceptibility testing but PBP2' negative by latex a
gglutination was confirmed as mecA gene negative by PCR, This simple and ra
pid slide latex reagent should be useful in clinical diagnostics.