Use of multiplex PCR to detect classical and newly described pyrogenic toxin genes in staphylococcal isolates

Staphylococcus aureus may contain one or more genes that encode a variety o f immunomodulatory pyrogenic toxins (PTs), including the staphylococcal ent erotoxins and toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST). The PTs interact with seve ral cellular targets to produce disease, such as food poisoning and toxic s hock syndrome. At present, nine serologically distinct enterotoxins and one immunoreactive form of TSST have been identified and characterized. As iso lates of S. aureus are further assessed, it is anticipated that this number will increase. To facilitate screening, a multiplex PCR was designed to si multaneously determine which of these 10 currently known PT genes an indivi dual S. aureus isolate possesses. We show here, using S, aureus isolates wi th characterized PT phenotypes, that this novel PCR technique reliably dete cts each of the known PTs in a single reaction.