Objectives: This study aimed at sequencing genes (sea, sec-1 and tst), which are responsible for the production of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, C and TSST-1 in different Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CNS) species. Methods: Of the 45 CNS samples which confirmed the presence of toxigenic genes by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique, nine samples of seven different species were selected: three samples of S. epidermidis, one with gene sec-1, another with gene sea and the third with genes sec-1 and tst, concomitantly; two samples of S. hominis, one presenting gene sea and the other with genes sec-1 and tst; one sample of S. warneri showing gene sea; one of S. haemolyticus with gene sec-1; one of S. lugdunensis showing genes sec-1 and tst and one sample of S. xylosus with gene sea. Amplicons obtained from these samples were submitted to sequencing by using the ABI Big Dye Terminator kit. Data were obtained by an ABI Prism DNA sequencer model 377. The Clustal X software package was used to align the sequences of nucleotides, and the sequences obtained were analyzed on GenBank using BLAST. Results: The sequences of genes sea, sec-1 and tst from CNS species and S. aureus were 100% identical to the published sequences (GenBank, accesses no. STATOXAA, SAENTC1 and AY074881.1, respectively). Conclusions: The results confirmed the toxigenic potential of CNS, and its possible involvement in food poisoning and infections associated with such superantigen toxins must be noted.

Financial support: FAPESP