Different staphylococcal species contain various numbers of penicillin-binding proteins ranging from four (Staphylococcus aureus) to only one (Staphylococcus hyicus).

The penicillin-binding proteins of a total of 25 staphylococcal strains belonging to five different species were analyzed. All strains of the same species showed an identical penicillin-binding protein pattern which clearly differed from that of strains of the other species. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus intermedius, Staphylococcus simulans, and the dolphin strains were found to contain two to four penicillin-binding proteins. Strains of Staphylococcus hyicus exhibited only one penicillin-binding protein.