Abstract
The cell wall‐anchored protein‐encoding spj gene on staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec IVl (SCCmecIVl) was found to vary in size because of its 22‐ and 86‐aa repeat domains. The 22‐aa repeats are the more flexible of the two repeats, comprising three 11‐aa units, and were classified into three groups with eleven types. The 11/22‐aa repeats are longer in individuals with bullous impetigo, shorter in those with invasive disease and were absent in a fatal case, this last one having been rapidly diagnosed by PCR. IS431‐flanking pUB110 (bleO, aadD) is present on SCCmecIVl at 90%. The bacterial surface has the spj product and a unique surface layer.

This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit: