Home / Current Issue / Paper 1722626
Molecular Detection and Characterization of Some Virulence (Fnba, Hla and Cna) Genes of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated From Clinical Specimen at Madonna University Teaching Hospital (M.U.T.H), Rivers State.
Subject area: Biological & Medical Sciences · Area of research: Molecular Microbiology
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major human pathogen associated with diverse infections due to its array of virulence factors. This study aimed to isolate S. aureus from clinical samples at Madonna University Teaching Hospital (MUTH), Elele, Nigeria, and molecularly detect the virulence genes fibronectin-binding protein A (fnbA), collagen adhesin (cna), and alpha-haemolysin (hla). A total of 106 clinical samples (mainly urine, high vaginal swab, endocervical swab, wound swab, sputum, and skin swab) were collected from patients. S. aureus was isolated using standard bacteriological methods (blood agar, mannitol salt agar, Gram staining, catalase, and coagulase tests) and confirmed molecularly. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Genomic DNA was extracted by the boiling method, and the target virulence genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Out of 106 samples, 26 (24.5%) yielded S. aureus, with higher prevalence among females (69.2%) and in the 31–40 years age group (46.2%). Among 18 isolates tested, fnbA was detected in 13 (72.2%), hla in 5 (27.8%), while cna was absent in all isolates. No statistically significant associations were observed between the genes and demographic/clinical variables (p>0.05). This study provides the first molecular characterization of S. aureus virulence genes at MUTH and in the south-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The findings highlight the predominance of fnbA-mediated adhesion in local strains and the absence of the cna gene, suggesting regional clonal variations. Routine molecular surveillance is recommended for better management of S. aureus infections.
Keywords
cna, disk diffusion, fnbA, genome, hla, PCR, virulent genes and Staphylococcus aureus
How to cite this paper
@article{1722626,
author = {Nwanesindu, Chidinma C, Tatfeng, Mirabeau, Goodluck, Silas},
title = {Molecular Detection and Characterization of Some Virulence (Fnba, Hla and Cna) Genes of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated From Clinical Specimen at Madonna University Teaching Hospital (M.U.T.H), Rivers State.},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {2},
pages = {3291-3298},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722626.pdf},
abstract = {Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major human pathogen associated with diverse infections due to its array of virulence factors. This study aimed to isolate S. aureus from clinical samples at Madonna University Teaching Hospital (MUTH), Elele, Nigeria, and molecularly detect the virulence genes fibronectin-binding protein A (fnbA), collagen adhesin (cna), and alpha-haemolysin (hla). A total of 106 clinical samples (mainly urine, high vaginal swab, endocervical swab, wound swab, sputum, and skin swab) were collected from patients. S. aureus was isolated using standard bacteriological methods (blood agar, mannitol salt agar, Gram staining, catalase, and coagulase tests) and confirmed molecularly. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Genomic DNA was extracted by the boiling method, and the target virulence genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Out of 106 samples, 26 (24.5%) yielded S. aureus, with higher prevalence among females (69.2%) and in the 31–40 years age group (46.2%). Among 18 isolates tested, fnbA was detected in 13 (72.2%), hla in 5 (27.8%), while cna was absent in all isolates. No statistically significant associations were observed between the genes and demographic/clinical variables (p>0.05). This study provides the first molecular characterization of S. aureus virulence genes at MUTH and in the south-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The findings highlight the predominance of fnbA-mediated adhesion in local strains and the absence of the cna gene, suggesting regional clonal variations. Routine molecular surveillance is recommended for better management of S. aureus infections.},
keywords = {cna, disk diffusion, fnbA, genome, hla, PCR, virulent genes and Staphylococcus aureus},
month = {August},
}