Analisi genomica e proteomica su ceppi di S. aureus isolati da mastiti bovine

We report the use of molecular methods based on genomics and proteomics assays for the characterization of S. aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitis. 42 strains were analyzed by PCR amplification of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer (RS-PCR) and SELDI-ToF mass spectrometry. Among the 32 strains isolated in Italy, the RS-PCR revealed 6 strains belonging to the genotype B that could be associated with high contagiosity. As previously demonstrated, this assay seems to be able to genotype different strains of S. aureus becoming a good epidemiological tool. SELDI-ToF analysis revealed a peak with m/z 7664 associated with genotype B strains and suggest that the technology could be useful in the profiling of S. aureus. However its effectiveness in epidemiological studies should be deeply investigated.