Enterococci may improve the typical taste and flavor of fermented foods through their proteolytic and lipolytic activities. However, some enterococcal strains are recognized as nosocomial pathogens, which have virulence genes and resistance to certain antibiotics. | Turkish Journal of Biology Turk J Biol (2014) 38: 357-364 © TÜBİTAK doi: Research Article Investigation of potential virulence genes and antibiotic resistance characteristics of Enterococcus faecalis isolates from human milk and colostrum samples 1, 2 3 4 5 Sine ÖZMEN TOĞAY *, Ayhan TEMİZ , Ayten ÇELEBİ , Leyla AÇIK , Sıddika Songül YALÇIN Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Science, İstanbul Medipol University, Kavacık Campus, İstanbul, Turkey 2 Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Turkey 4 Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Gazi University, Teknikokullar, Ankara, Turkey 5 Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Social Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Samanpazarı, Ankara, Turkey 1 Received: Accepted: Published Online: Printed: Abstract: Enterococci may improve the typical taste and flavor of fermented foods through their proteolytic and lipolytic activities. However, some enterococcal strains are recognized as nosocomial pathogens, which have virulence genes and resistance to certain antibiotics. Enteroccocci are also found in human milk microflora. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential virulence genes and antibiotic resistance characteristics of Enterococcus faecalis isolates from human milk and colostrum samples. In total, 23 Enterococcus faecalis strains were identified from human milk and colostrum samples. Antibiotic-resistant E. faecalis isolates were determined using the disk diffusion method. Vancomycin resistance genes (vanA, vanB) and some virulence genes (agg2, gelE, efaAfm, ccf, cpd, cad, cylM, cylB, etc.) were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All strains were sensitive to ampicillin, penicillin G,
