Molecular Characterization and Association of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) gene in Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Staphylococcus aureus is associated with several infections and emergence of antibiotic resistance is the major hindrance faced worldwide to combat them. Alternation in the Penicillin binding protein (PBP2A) results in the decreased binding of β –lactam antibiotics which lands up in Penicillinase resistance, thereby giving rise to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) organisms. Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) is a cytotoxin, one of the β-pore forming toxins. It belongs to the family of synergohymenotropic toxins, which has the ability to form pores in the membrane by its synergistic actions. Our study intends to analyze the distribution of PVL genes among the Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from our part of the country by performing Polymerase chain reaction. Phenotypic identification of Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus was carried out by Cefoxitin disk diffusion method. Panton-valentine Leukocidin gene among the MRSA isolated was characterized by Polymerase chain reaction. Out of all the MRSA samples, 24% (12/50) were positive for PVL gene at 433 bp by gradient polymerase chain reaction and 76% (38/50) were negative for PVL gene among the MRSA isolates. All the isolated MRSA were clinically classified as HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA. Among the CA-MRSA, 9 (33.3%) were found to be PVL positive whereas only 3 (13%) HA-MRSA were seen as PVL gene positive. The present study highlights the high prevalence of PVL gene from the community acquired MRSA isolates.