Possible virulence factors of Staphylococcus sciuri

Staplylococcus sciuri is an opportunistic pathogen of controversial clinica l significance. The factors that contribute to colonization and/or infectio n caused by this bacterium have not been studied intensively so far. The pr esent research was carried out in order to study the presence of potential virulence factors in 121 human and animal isolates of this bacterium. Isola tes were examined for biofilm formation, hemagglutination, presence of clum ping factor, production of spreading factors and exotoxins, cytotoxicity an d capacity to stimulate nitric oxide production. The results showed that S. sciuri is highly capable of biofilm production, that it displays strong pr oteolytic and DNase activities, produces hemolysins and stimulates nitric o xide production by rat macrophages. Although the present study showed exist ence of a wide spectrum of possible virulence determinants of S. sciuri. th eir exact contribution to virulence of this bacterium in vivo remains to be determined. (C) 2001 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Pub lished by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.