Vancomycin and Staphylococcus aureus capsule gene: Analysis Of Capsule Gene Expression In Clinical Strains of Staphylococcus aureus Exposed To Vancomycin

With more than 10 years following the emergence of low level vancomycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates, the molecular mechanism responsible for this resistance is not fully understood. This piece of work which explores the effect of varying concentrations of vancomycin on the capsule gene expression points at a role for the S. aureus capsule in resistance with an important link noted between increased capsule gene expression and survival at lethal vancomycin concentrations. It thereby provides the scientific community with an insight into the molecular mechanisms associated with low level vancomycin resistance and raises the effect of strain genetic background on low level vancomycin resistance and treatment failure. The study also offers an in-depth exploration of relevant literature and detailed description of methods.

Kome, an Assistant Lecturer in Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt Nigeria; obtained a Masters degree in Medical and Molecular Microbiology from the University of Manchester as a Commonwealth Scholar. Still funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, she is currently carrying out PhD studies at the University of Nottingham.