Evidence of <i>icaC</i> tandem repeat variation in clinical <i>S. aureus</i> isolates, and the effect on PNAG production.

<p>A. Nucleotide sequence alignment of the region of repeats identified in <i>icaC</i>, comparing mucoid MN8m and non-mucoid isolate JB12 with two published sequences of <i>S. aureus</i> clinical isolates, NRS63 and NRS264. B. PNAG slot blot analysis of <i>S. aureus</i> strains MN8, MN8Δica, MN8m, JB12, NRS63, and NRS264 probed with PNAG-specific polyclonal antiserum. Due to the very high levels of PNAG produced by MN8m, cell surface extracts from this strain were diluted 1∶100 prior to immobilization on membrane.