PHENOTYPE AND GENE EXPRESSION OF cylA GENE IN Enterococcus Faecalis STRAINS ISOLATED FROM HUMAN ROOT CANALS

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the presence of hemolytic activity and cylA gene expression of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) strains isolated from endodontic-periodontal lesions showing the same (Ef.S) and different (Ef.D) genotype. A total of 54 strains, 36 strains of Ef.S and 18 strains of Ef.D, were examined for hemolytic activity on blood agar plate, the presence of the cylA gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and cylA gene expression levels by real-time PCR. Results showed that Ef.S strains exhibited a higher hemolytic activity Med = 0 (0,5.33) mm. compared to the Ef.D strains Med = 0 (0,4.63) mm. Moreover, the gene expression of Ef.S strains Med = 0.93 (0,6670.4) folds of induction was higher than in the Ef.D strains Med = 1.33 (0.41,1376.4) folds of induction. Additionally, all strains (100%) presented the cylA gene. Our study concluded that Ef.S strains showed a high virulence factors compared to Ef.D and it may be associated with the high severity of the disease.