In the human environment, microbes are among the numerous living organisms. With the stimulus of the settings and surroundings, bacteria, a vital component of such creatures, may occasionally turn into an exceptionally fierce adversary of humans. Among the most predominant infectious pathogens among human beings, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can cause potentially fatal illnesses. However, while staphylococci S. aureus is the most pathogenic and causes the most infection, there are additionally S. epidermidis, and S. saprophyticus that become infectious in human bodies.
Streptococci
Among the leading causes of mortality for people globally are infectious diseases that come from bacterial pathogens. For example, millions of individuals died worldwide in 2016 as a result of pneumonia in the lower respiratory tract (Cebeci & Kırmusaoğlu, 2020). Staphylococcus and Streptococcus genera stand out as being among the most harmful microorganisms for humans. In this case, it is noteworthy that Gram-positive cocci include streptococci and staphylococci (Cebeci & Kırmusaoğlu, 2020). Streptococci develop in chains, while Staphylococci produce clumps (Cebeci & Kırmusaoğlu, 2020). Since Staphylococci may make catalase, organisms can indeed be distinguished using catalase testing (Cebeci & Kırmusaoğlu, 2020). Therefore, in the face of specific characteristics, catalase testing is one of the options to detect Staphylococci.
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is capable of causing several conditions dangerous to humans. For instance, among them are bacteremia, infection of the endocardial surface of the heart, bronchitis and bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and diseases connected to medical devices (Carroll et al., 2021). Coagulation occurs in two states in S. aureus strains: bound and free. In order to create staphylococcal accumulation, the bound coagulase, grouping component, or clustering component attaches to the outermost layer of the staphylococcal cell membrane (Carroll et al., 2021). In contrast, free coagulase produces an enzyme similar to thrombin by interacting with a plasma component that resembles globulin, such as the coagulase-reactive component, to create the same effect (Carroll et al., 2021). This substance helps fibrinogen turn into solid fibrin (Carroll et al., 2021). The staphylococcal infection can develop a fibrinogen coating due to the action of coagulase (Carroll et al., 2021). As a result, this helps to contain the infections and shield the germs against phagocytosis.
Protein A
The kind of A protein in Staphylococcus aureus has certain characteristics and a location. More specifically, what is called the 42-kDa protein Protein A, is present in S. aureus cell membrane (Shahbazi et al., 2018). It links the Fc area of immunoglobulins from different organisms with a significant level of affinity (Shahbazi et al., 2018). Antibodies have multiple binding sites, and only two of them are able to be active at once (Shahbazi et al., 2018). Antigens that have been immobilized on a solid substrate can be indirectly detected with the help of designated protein A (Shahbazi et al., 2018). With protein A interacting with the antibody-coated latex beads, a fast latex agglutination analysis may identify it (Shahbazi et al., 2018). The latex agglutination test is a diagnostic procedure to examine a range of bodily excretions, such as blood, urine, cerebral fluid, or saliva, for the presence of specific antigens (Shahbazi et al., 2018). Therefore, protein A is a protein found in the cell walls of S. aureus and can be detected by using the latex agglutination test.
Kinds of Staphylococci
The first type of staphylococci that requires analysis is Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is non-sporing cocci that are catalase-positive (Public Health England, 2020). With aerobic settings, they expand swiftly and in great numbers. After incubating for twenty-four hours, the colonies have a diameter of between two and three millimeters, and many of the strains are hemolytic (Public Health England, 2020). In contrast, strains of S. epidermidis might not even ferment, they are facultative anaerobes that really can develop by aerobic cellular respiration or by fermenting. After incubating for twenty-four hours, they produce compact colonies that are one to two millimeters in diameter and non-hemolytic (Public Health England, 2020). Moreover, S. saprophyticus test negative for coagulase, nitrate reduction, and oxidase, whereas tests for catalase and urease show them to be positive (Public Health England, 2020). Colonies are round, elevated to convex, typically whole, and range in diameter from four to nine millimeters (Public Health England, 2020). Therefore, the difference between the three is that S. aureus is coagulase positive and beta-hemolytic, while S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus are coagulase-negative and are not beta-hemolytic.
Staphylococcal Infections
The most harmful strain, staphylococcus aureus, often generates skin infections but can also lead to respiratory and other infections. Among these are toxic shock syndrome, skin infections, and viral gastroenteritis (Bush & Vazquez-Pertejo, 2022). Gram stain and cultures are used for diagnosing this microorganism. Although vancomycin or other more recent medications could be necessary due to the prevalence of bacterial resistance, medication is often administered using penicillinase-resistant beta-lactams (Bush & Vazquez-Pertejo, 2022). A few variants are entirely or partially resilient to every one of the latest antimicrobials, which include linezolid, tedizolid, and others (Bush & Vazquez-Pertejo, 2022). Patients who are susceptible may pick up antibiotic-resistant staphylococci from other patients, staff members, or inanimate items in medical facilities (Bush & Vazquez-Pertejo, 2022). The most typical method of spreading is by contact with personnel’s hands (Bush & Vazquez-Pertejo, 2022). Therefore, there are several reasons why staphylococcal infections are so frequent among hospital patients, such as contacting the infected.
Conclusion
Hence, while S. aureus among the staphylococci is the most infectious and harmful, S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus are also contagious in human bodies. Catalase testing is one method for identifying Staphylococci in the presence of certain traits. Staphylococcal infections are quite common among hospital patients for a variety of reasons, including contact with the infected. Thus, bacteria within the human host can become dangerous, and the spreading of infection is frequent due to exposure to those affected.
References
Bush, L. M., & Vazquez-Pertejo, M. T. (2022). Streptococcal infections. MSD Manual. Web.
Carroll, K. C., Burnham, C. A. D., & Westblade, L. F. (2021). From canines to humans: Clinical importance of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. PLoS Pathogens, 17(12), 1-9. Web.
Cebeci, A., & Kırmusaoğlu, S. (2020). Introductory chapter: An overview of the Genus Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Web.
Public Health England. (2020). UK standards for microbiology investigations: Identification of Staphylococcus species, Micrococcus species and Rothia species. NHS, 4, 1-26. Web.
Shahbazi, R., Salouti, M., Amini, B., Jalilvand, A., Naderlou, E., Amini, A., & Shams, A. (2018). Highly selective and sensitive detection of Staphylococcus aureus with gold nanoparticle-based core-shell nano biosensor. Molecular and Cellular Probes, 41, 8-13. Web.