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Analysis of the virulence potential, ability to form biofilms and susceptibility to bacteriocins of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from livestock and wildlife Cover

Analysis of the virulence potential, ability to form biofilms and susceptibility to bacteriocins of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from livestock and wildlife

Open Access
|Feb 2026

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1.

Biofilm production capacity of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from different hosts
Biofilm production capacity of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from different hosts

Fig. 2.

Activity of bacteriocins (arbitrary units/mL) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Ent412 – produced by an equine isolate of Enterococcus faecium; EntM – produced by an environmental isolate of E. faecium; Ent7420 – produced by a leporine isolate of E. faecium; EntA(P) – produced by an environmental isolate of E. faecium; Ent55 – produced by a poultry isolate of E. faecium; Ent 4231 – produced by a vituline isolate of E. faecium; EM 41/3 – produced by an equine isolate of E. mundtii; E. as. – produced by an equine isolate of E. asini; E. sacch. – produced by an equine isolate of E. saccharolyticus; L.l MK2 – produced by a caprine isolate of L. lactis; nisin – produced by a commercial strain of L. lactis. The activity of bacteriocins against some S. aureus strains was partially described previously (24, 27)
Activity of bacteriocins (arbitrary units/mL) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Ent412 – produced by an equine isolate of Enterococcus faecium; EntM – produced by an environmental isolate of E. faecium; Ent7420 – produced by a leporine isolate of E. faecium; EntA(P) – produced by an environmental isolate of E. faecium; Ent55 – produced by a poultry isolate of E. faecium; Ent 4231 – produced by a vituline isolate of E. faecium; EM 41/3 – produced by an equine isolate of E. mundtii; E. as. – produced by an equine isolate of E. asini; E. sacch. – produced by an equine isolate of E. saccharolyticus; L.l MK2 – produced by a caprine isolate of L. lactis; nisin – produced by a commercial strain of L. lactis. The activity of bacteriocins against some S. aureus strains was partially described previously (24, 27)

Distribution of virulence and resistance gene profiles of Staphylococcus aureus strains

Host (n)Clonal complexSequence type/nMethicillin resistanceMultidrug resistanceVancomycin intermediate resistanceVirulence gene profileProfile component genesResistance genes
19/1+XVicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, enoblaZ
19/1+XVicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, enoblaZ, tetM
19/2+XVIicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fib, eno, sdrCblaZ, tetM
19/2+XVIIicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fib, enoblaZ, tetM
19/1+XIXicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, cidA, fib, enoblaZ, tetM
19/1+XXicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, cidA, fib, eno, sdrCblaZ, tetM
12423/2+XVicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, enoermC
398/1++XXIlukED, hla, hlb, icaA, icaR, clfA, cna, enomecA, mecC, blaZ, ermB, tetM, tetK, aac
Pig 398/1++XXIIhla, hlb, icaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fib, cna, enomecA, mecC, blaZ, ermB, tetM, tetK
398/1++XXIIIhla, hlb, icaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpB, cna, enomecA, mecC, blaZ, ermB, tetM, tetK
398/30++XIISeC, hla, hlb, icaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fnbpB, cidA, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrEmecA, mecC, blaZ, ermA, ermB, tetM, tetK
398/6++XIIIhla, hlb, icaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpB, cna, enomecA, mecC, blaZ, ermA, ermB, tetM, tetK
8135/1+XIVicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, cna, enoblaZ, ermC, tetM
ND/1XVIIIicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fnbpB, fib, enoblaZ
133/1+IVicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrE-
479/1+VIlukED, hla, hlb, icaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, cna, eno-
398/1++VIIicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fib, enomecA, mecC, blaZ, tetM, tetK
8139/1+IIIicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, fnbpB, cidA, fib, ebpS, eno, sdrCblaZ
8139/2+IicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrE-
Cow ND/1IIIicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, fnbpB, cidA, fib, ebpS, eno, sdrCtetM, tetK
ND/13IicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrE-
ND/1VicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, cna, eno-
ND/11IVicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrE-
ND/3IIicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, ebpS, eno, sdrC-
ND/1IIIicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, fnbpB, cidA, fib, ebpS, eno, sdrC-
ND/1IXicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, fnbpB, cidA, fib, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrEblaZ, tetM, tetK
ND/8VIIIicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrE-
Wild deer ND/1XicaA, iaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, fnbpB, cidA, fib, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrC-
ND/1IVicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrE-
ND/1XIicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA,fib, cna, ebpS, eno-

Virulence factors and encoding genes tested for in Polish livestock-and wildlife-originating Staphylococcus aureus strains

Virulence factorEncoding gene(s)
Staphylococcus enterotoxins A–ESeA, SeB, SeC, SeD, and SeE
Toxic shock syndrome toxinTst
Exfoliative toxinEt
Panton–Valentine leukocidin components S and FlukS-PV-lukF-PV
Leukocidin EDlukE and lukD
Biofilm-associated proteinbap
α-haemolysinhla
β-haemolysinhlb
Polysaccharide intercellular adhesinicaABCD and icaR
Clumping factors A and BclfA and clfB
Fibronectin-binding proteins A and BfnbpA and fnbpB
Murein hydrolase regulatorcidA
Collagen-binding proteincna
Staphylococcus elastin-binding proteinebpS
Laminin-binding proteineno
Serine-aspartate repeat proteinssdrC, sdrD and sdrE

Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient in the context of Staphylococcus aureus characteristics

BiofilmMRSASeClukEDhlahlbicaBicaDclfBfnbpAfnbpBcidAfibcnaebpSsdrCsdrE
Biofilm-–0.36*–0.35*0.05–0.36*–0.35*0.24*0.070.51*0.19–0.32*0.27*0.43*–0.24*0.21*0.080.01
MRSA–0.36*-0.92*0.030.96*0.94*0.18–0.12–0.76*0.070.81*0.14–0.75*0.57*0.21*0.31*0.32*
SeC–0.35*0.92*-–0.110.92*0.89*0.32*0.08–0.73*0.21*0.86*0.29*–0.70*0.52*0.34*0.42*0.43*
lukED0.050.03–0.11-0.170.18–0.14–0.70*0.01–0.24*–0.13–0.16–0.030.10–0.31*–0.26*–0.09
hla–0.36*0.96*0.92*0.17-0.98*0.18–0.12–0.76*0.070.81*0.14–0.70*0.57*0.160.26*0.32*
hlb–0.35*0.94*0.89*0.180.98*-–0.17–0.12–0.74*0.060.79*0.13–0.68*0.56*0.150.25*0.31*
icaB0.24*0.180.32*–0.140.18–0.17-0.24*0.41*0.65*0.26*0.92*0.070.37*0.93*0.57*0.75*
icaD0.07–0.120.08–0.70*–0.12–0.120.24*-0.100.37*0.090.26*0.13–0.070.22*0.180.18
clfB0.51*–0.76*–0.73*0.01–0.76*–0.74*0.41*0.10-0.27*–0.65*0.38*0.72*–0.24*0.33*0.010.12
fnbpA0.190.070.21*–0.24*0.070.060.65*0.37*0.27*-0.160.71*0.35*0.150.60*0.50*0.49*
fnbpB–0.32*0.81*0.86*–0.130.81*0.79*0.26*0.09–0.65*0.16-0.22*–0.61*0.34*0.29*0.38*0.21*
cidA0.27*0.140.29*–0.160.140.130.92*0.26*0.38*0.71*0.22*-0.120.30*0.85*0.56*0.69*
fib0.43*–0.75*–0.70*–0.03–0.70*–0.68*0.070.130.72*0.35*–0.61*0.12-–0.37*0.03–0.09–0.11
cna–0.24*0.57*0.52*0.100.57*0.56*0.37*–0.07–0.24*0.150.34*0.30*–0.37*-0.31*0.030.52*
ebpS0.21*0.21*0.34*–0.31*0.160.150.93*0.22*0.33*0.60*0.29*0.85*0.030.31*-0.64*0.74*
sdrC0.080.31*0.42*–0.26*0.26*0.25*0.57*0.180.010.50*0.38*0.56*–0.090.030.64*-0.47*
sdrE0.010.32*0.43*–0.090.32*0.31*0.75*0.180.120.49*0.21*0.69*–0.110.52*0.74*0.47*-

Occurrence of virulence genes in Polish livestock- and wildlife-originating Staphylococcus aureus strains

Virulence gene (n/%)
SeC*lukEDhla*hlb*icaAicaBicaDicaRclfAclfB*fnbpAfnbpB*cidAfib*cnaebpSenosdrC*sdrE
Pigs (n=51)36/711/239/7639/7651/10036/7150/9851/10051/100 44/8638/7538/7514/2740/7836/7151/10039/7636/71
Cows (n=36) 1/31/31/336/10036/10036/10036/10036/10036/10036/1003/836/10035/9718/5034/9436/10034/9429/81
Wild deer (n=12) 12/10012/10012/10012/10012/10012/10012/1002/1712/10012/1009/7512/10012/1003/2510/83
Total (n=99)36/362/240/4040/4099/10084/8598/9999/10099/10048/4892/9343/4386/8761/6267/6882/8399/10076/7775/76

Virulence gene profiles of Staphylococcus aureus strains (n/%)

ProfileGene contentPigs (n=51)Cows (n=36)Wild deer (n=12)Total (n=99)
IicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrE 15/42 15/15
IIicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, ebpS, eno, sdrC 3/8 3/3
IIIicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, fnbpB, cidA, fib, ebpS, eno, sdrC 3/8 3/3
IVicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrE 12/331/813/13
VicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, cna, eno 1/3 1/1
VIlukED, hla, hlb, icaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, cna, eno 1/3 1/1
VIIicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrE 1/3 1/1
VIIIicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrE 8/678/8
IXicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, fnbpB, cidA, fib, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrE 1/81/1
XicaA, iaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, fnbpB, cidA, fib, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrC 1/81/1
XIicaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, clfB, fnbpA, cidA, fib, cna, ebpS, eno 1/81/1
XIISeC, hla, hlb, icaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fnbpB, cidA, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrE30/59 30/30
XIIISeC, hla, hlb, icaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fnbpB, cidA, fib, cna, ebpS, eno, sdrC, sdrE6/12 6/6
XIVicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, cna, eno1/2 1/1
XVicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, eno4/8 4/4
XVIicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fib, eno, sdrC2/4 2/2
XVIIicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fib, eno2/4 2/2
XVIIIicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fnbpB, fib, eno1/2 1/1
XIXicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, cidA, fib, eno1/2 1/1
XXicaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, cidA, fib, eno, sdrC1/2 1/1
XXIlukED, hla, hlb, icaA, icaR, clfA, cna, eno1/2 1/1
XXIIhla, hlb, icaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpA, fib, cna, eno1/2 1/1
XXIIIhla, hlb, icaA, icaD, icaR, clfA, fnbpB, cna, eno1/2 1/1

Bacteriocins used in this study

BacteriocinProducer bacteriaSource of isolation
Ent412Enterococcus faecium EF412faecal strain from a Slovak warmblood horse
EntM/AL41E. faecium AL41/CCM8558environment
Ent7420E. faecium EF2019/CCM7420rabbit faeces
EntA(P)/EK 13E. faecium EK13=CCM7419environment
Ent55E. faecium EF55gastrointestinal tract of a chicken
Ent4231E. faecium CCM4231rumen of a calf
EM41/3E. mundtii EM41/3faeces of a horse of the Norik of Muran breed
Ent. as.1E. asini EAs 1/11D27inner part of the auricle mucosa of a mare of the Norik of Muran breed
Ent. sacch.E. saccharolyticus Es 3/11D27inner part of the auricle mucosa of a mare of the Norik of Muran breed
L.l MK 2/81L. lactisraw goat milk
L.l MK 2/21L. lactisraw goat milk
L.l MK 2/71L. lactisraw goat milk
nisinL. lactis (from Nisaplin)commercial strain
Language: English
Submitted on: May 20, 2025
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Accepted on: Jan 29, 2026
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Published on: Feb 5, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2026 Aleksandra Trościańczyk, Aneta Nowakiewicz, Andrea Lauková, Marcelina Osińska, Agata Hahaj-Siembida, published by National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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