Agr‐related sequences in Staphylococcus lugdunensis

Abstract Sequences related to the Staphylococcus aureus accessory gene regulator (agr) were demonstrated in S. lugdunensis by Southern blot analysis of 13 strains and sequencing of the S. lugdunensis agr‐like locus (agr‐sl). Northern blot analysis of cellular RNA revealed the presence of a transcript having homology with the agr‐P3 transcript (RNAIII) for three of the six strains tested. The three strains containing this transcript produce a hemolysin with phenotypic properties similar to that of S. aureusδ‐hemolysin. Nevertheless, unlike agr‐P3 from S. aureus, agr‐sl does not encode any potential peptides homologous to S. aureusδ‐hemolysin, suggesting that the hemolytic activity detected in S. lugdunensis is encoded elsewhere and may be controlled by agr‐sl.