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Journal of Human Lactation
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Screening of Virulence Determinants in Enterococcus faecium Strains Isolated From Breast Milk

Carlota Reviriego, MSc

Tracy Eaton, PhD

BBSRC Institute of Food Research, Norwich, United Kingdom

Rocío Martín, MSc

Esther Jiménez, MSc

Leónides Fernández, PhD

Departamento de Nutrición, Bromatología y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain

Michael J. Gasson, PhD

BBSRC Institute of Food Research, Norwich, United Kingdom

Juan M. Rodríguez, PhD

Departamento de Nutrición, Bromatología y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain

In a previous study, the authors isolated lactic acid bacteria from breast milk of healthy mothers. Since some of the identified isolates belonged to the species Enterococcus faecium, the objective of this work was to evaluate their safety. The enterococcal strains were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern hybridization for the presence of virulence determinants. The potential of the strains to acquire plasmids by conjugation was investigated by screening for genes involved in conjugation processes. Parallel, phenotypic assays were performed. Presence of genes conferring resistance to vancomycin was assessed by PCR. PCR amplifications and Southern hybridizations revealed that all the strains were clear of the majority of potential virulence determinants. None of the strains showed gelatinase activity, hemolysin production, or aggregation phenotype, and none carried the vanA or vanB genes. These findings suggest that milk of healthy mothers may be a source of avirulent E faecium isolates to the newborns. Journal of Human Lactation. 21(2):131-137.

Key Words: Enterococcus faecium • breast milk • virulence genes • safety

Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 21, No. 2, 131-137 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0890334405275394
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