The Induction of Small Colony Variant Staphylococcus aureus in Artificial Sputa Media

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that has adapted to the respiratory tract due to its metabolic versatility, but is normally associated with the skin and mucus membranes (Parker and Prince, 2012). Small colony variants (SCV) are a subpopulation of bacteria. Characteristics of S. aureus SCV are decreased α-cytotoxin activity, auxotrophic growth deficiency, deficiency in electron transport chain, and increased resistance to aminoglycosides (Melter and Radojevic, 2010). The SCV is believed to be caused by the selective pressure of antibiotics and have increasingly been isolated from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (Yagci et al., 2013). CF is a genetic disease that results in increased mucus formation in lungs and pancreas. CF patients are susceptible to S. aureus infections with S. aureus being the most prevalent infection in childhood and the second most common infection in adults with CF (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2006). The aim of this study is to determine if S. aureus isolated from CF patients grown in artificial sputum medium will exhibit altered SCV phenotype.