Detection of Curli Biogenesis Genes Among Enterobacter cloacae Isolated From Blood Cultures

Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia infection is an significant cause of morbidity and mortality in both developing and developed countries. Curli fibrils are considered the most important virulence factor in these bacteria.. The purpose of this research was to detect curli biogenesis genes among Enterobacter cloacae isolated from blood cultures.. Nine E. cloacae isolates were collected from blood cultures of inpatients admitted to three hospitals in the Tehran, Iran during December 2012 to November 2013. Confirmation of identity of the infecting organism as E. cloacae was performed by API20E system and the presence of a csgA and csgD genes by PCR using csgA and csgD specific primers.. All of E. cloacae bloodstream strains (100%) harbored csgD gene (curli biogenesis activator) and seven (77.75%) carried csgA gene (curli major subunit) which is indicative of wide distribution of this virulence factor among our isolates.. Extensive presence of curli biogenesis genes (csgD and csgA) among E.cloacae strains and probably expression of those crucial role of this virulence factor in E. cloacae pathogenesis and invasiveness..