We determined the entire nucleotide sequence of phiSa2958-carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene, which was lysogenized in a sequence type 5 staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type II strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Based on the nucleotide sequences of PVL phages, we developed PCRs to discriminate among five PVL phages, with a preliminary clas...

Infections caused by Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)–producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus have been reported with increasing frequency. However, the role of PVL in the pathogenesis of invasive staphylococcal infection is controversial. It is interesting to note that the role played by PVL may depend on the site of infection; although an association between PVL and severity has been repo...

The Staphylococcus aureus Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a pore-forming toxin secreted by strains epidemiologically associated with the current outbreak of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and with the often-lethal necrotizing pneumonia. To investigate the role of PVL in pulmonary disease, we tested the pathogenicity of clinical isolates, isogenic...

We noted with interest the study by Rossney et al. (3) describing genotypic diversity among Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive (PVL ) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Ireland, where they suggested foreign importation of the strains as one of the reasons for this diversity. In support of this, we have over the last few years seen a number of patients with PVL-associated fo...

Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is among one of the many toxins associated with Staphylococcus aureus infection. It commonly causes recurrent skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), but can sometimes be severe invasive infections, including necrotising haemorrhagic pneumonia in otherwise healthy young people. Here we report a case male patient who presented community acquired that very rapid...

This article reports a rare case of necrotizing pneumonia caused by Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) positive Staphylococcus aureus in an HIV-infected patient presenting with severe back pain and rash. The back pain progressed to excruciating abdominal pain which was misleading, resulting in an investigation on intraabdominal conditions. He developed massive hemoptysis and died within 2 days o...

A clinical trial of uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections (39 locations in 19 states) observed that community-associated or community-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CO-MRSA) represented 23% of all pathogens at baseline culture and 53% of 190 S. aureus isolates. CO-MRSA strains typically were Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) positive (95%), contained staphylococca...