BACKGROUND: The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is known to induce allergic inflammatory responses, including through secreted staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) superantigens. To quantify indoor environmental exposures to these potential allergens, which may be associated with worse asthma, we developed a method for the assessment of S. aureus and SE in home dust and applied it to a study of homes of inner-city adults with asthma. METHODS: We conducted laboratory experiments to optimize sample processing and real-time PCR methods for detection and quantification of SA (femB) and SEA-D, based on published primers. We applied this method to dust and dust extract from 24 homes. We compared results from real-time PCR to culture-based results from the same homes. RESULTS: The bacteremia DNA isolation method provided higher DNA yield than alternative kits. Culture-based results from homes demonstrated 12 of 24 (50%) bedrooms were contaminated with S. aureus, only one of which carried a SE gene (SEC). In contrast, femB was detected in 23 of 24 (96%) bedrooms with a median of 1.1×106 gene copies detected per gram of raw dust. Prevalence and median copy number (shown in parenthesis) of SE gene detection in bedroom dust was: SEA 25% (1.4×102); SEB 63% (1.4×103); SEC 63% (1.1×103); SED 21% (1.3×102). CONCLUSIONS: Our culture-independent method to detect S. aureus and SE in home dust was more sensitive than our culture-based method. Prevalence of household exposure to S. aureus and SE allergens may be high among adults with asthma.
BACKGROUND: The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is known to induce allergic inflammatory responses, including through secreted staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) superantigens. To quantify indoor environmental exposures to these potential allergens, which may be associated with worse asthma, we developed a method for the assessment of S. aureus and SE in home dust and applied it to a study of homes of inner-city adults with asthma. METHODS: We conducted laboratory experiments to optimize sample processing and real-time PCR methods for detection and quantification of SA (femB) and SEA-D, based on published primers. We applied this method to dust and dust extract from 24 homes. We compared results from real-time PCR to culture-based results from the same homes. RESULTS: The bacteremia DNA isolation method provided higher DNA yield than alternative kits. Culture-based results from homes demonstrated 12 of 24 (50%) bedrooms were contaminated with S. aureus, only one of which carried a SE gene (SEC). In contrast, femB was detected in 23 of 24 (96%) bedrooms with a median of 1.1×106 gene copies detected per gram of raw dust. Prevalence and median copy number (shown in parenthesis) of SE gene detection in bedroom dust was: SEA 25% (1.4×102); SEB 63% (1.4×103); SEC 63% (1.1×103); SED 21% (1.3×102). CONCLUSIONS: Our culture-independent method to detect S. aureus and SE in home dust was more sensitive than our culture-based method. Prevalence of household exposure to S. aureus and SE allergens may be high among adults with asthma.
Authors: Kei E Fujimura; Marcus Rauch; Elizabeth Matsui; Shoko Iwai; Agustin Calatroni; Henry Lynn; Herman Mitchell; Christine C Johnson; James E Gern; Alkis Togias; Homer A Boushey; Suzanne Kennedy; Susan V Lynch Journal: J Microbiol Methods Date: 2012-09-04 Impact factor: 2.363
Authors: Meghan F Davis; Baofeng Hu; Karen C Carroll; Warren B Bilker; Pam Tolomeo; Valerie C Cluzet; Patrick Baron; Jacqueline M Ferguson; Daniel O Morris; Shelley C Rankin; Ebbing Lautenbach; Irving Nachamkin Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2016-04-27 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Meghan F Davis; Sally Ann Iverson; Patrick Baron; Aimee Vasse; Ellen K Silbergeld; Ebbing Lautenbach; Daniel O Morris Journal: Lancet Infect Dis Date: 2012-09 Impact factor: 25.071
Authors: Pasi Kaarakainen; Helena Rintala; Asko Vepsäläinen; Anne Hyvärinen; Aino Nevalainen; Teija Meklin Journal: Sci Total Environ Date: 2009-05-27 Impact factor: 7.963
Authors: Stephanie A Fritz; Patrick G Hogan; Lauren N Singh; Ryley M Thompson; Meghan A Wallace; Krista Whitney; Duha Al-Zubeidi; Carey-Ann D Burnham; Victoria J Fraser Journal: JAMA Pediatr Date: 2014-11 Impact factor: 16.193
Authors: Claus Bachert; Kristel van Steen; Nan Zhang; Gabriele Holtappels; Tom Cattaert; Bärbel Maus; Roland Buhl; Christian Taube; Stephanie Korn; Marek Kowalski; Jean Bousquet; Peter Howarth Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2012-06-26 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Maria Valkonen; Inge M Wouters; Martin Täubel; Helena Rintala; Virissa Lenters; Ritva Vasara; Jon Genuneit; Charlotte Braun-Fahrländer; Renaud Piarroux; Erika von Mutius; Dick Heederik; Anne Hyvärinen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-06-29 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: M J Ege; M Mayer; K Schwaiger; J Mattes; G Pershagen; M van Hage; A Scheynius; J Bauer; E von Mutius Journal: Allergy Date: 2012-09-21 Impact factor: 13.146
Authors: Meghan F Davis; Shanna Ludwig; Emily P Brigham; Meredith C McCormack; Elizabeth C Matsui Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2017-07-21 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Kathryn R Dalton; Kathy Ruble; Laurel E Redding; Daniel O Morris; Noel T Mueller; Roland J Thorpe; Jacqueline Agnew; Karen C Carroll; Paul J Planet; Ronald C Rubenstein; Allen R Chen; Elizabeth A Grice; Meghan F Davis Journal: Microorganisms Date: 2021-05-13
Authors: B M Hanson; A E Kates; S M O'Malley; E Mills; L A Herwaldt; J C Torner; J D Dawson; S A Farina; C Klostermann; J Y Wu; M K Quick; B M Forshey; T C Smith Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2018-06-22 Impact factor: 4.434