DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ENTEROCOCCUS FAECIUM RELATED DISEASE

摘要

The invention provides a method for determining whether an E. faecium bacterium is epidemic, comprising determining whether an epidemic E. faecium nucleic acid sequence and/or an expression product thereof is present in said bacterium, and/or associated with said bacterium. The invention further provides a method for diagnosis of an epidemic E. faecium related disease in an patient, comprising: obtaining a sample from said patient, and detecting the presence of an E. faecium esp gene and/or an epidemic purK housekeeping gene or a functional equivalent thereof, and/or a nox gene and/or an expression product of any said genes or a functional part, derivative and/or analogue of said product in said sample. The invention also provides an isolated or recombinant E. faecium esp, nox or epidemic purK expression product or a functional part, derivative and/or analogue thereof. Also included is a method for treatment of an E. faecium related disease, comprising at least in part decreasing the attachment of an E. faecium bacteriu to a host cell.