Which statement is not associated with Staphylococcus aureus?

Which statement is not associated with Staphylococcus aureus?

• A. Clumping factor production
• B. Endotoxin production
• C. Hemolysin production
• D. Deoxyribonuclease production

Answer: (C)

Endotoxin production is not associated with Staphylococcus aureus. Endotoxins are lipopolysaccharide (LPS) components found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and are released when the cells lyse; Gram-positive organisms like S. aureus do not contain LPS and do not produce endotoxin. Staphylococcus aureus, on the other hand, has several virulence factors it does produce, including clumping factor, which helps it bind fibrinogen and clump together; hemolysins, such as alpha toxin, that lyse red blood cells; and deoxyribonucleases that help the organism spread by degrading extracellular DNA. So the statement about endotoxin production is the one not associated with Staphylococcus aureus.

Endotoxin production is not associated with Staphylococcus aureus. Endotoxins are lipopolysaccharide (LPS) components found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and are released when the cells lyse; Gram-positive organisms like S. aureus do not contain LPS and do not produce endotoxin. Staphylococcus aureus, on the other hand, has several virulence factors it does produce, including clumping factor, which helps it bind fibrinogen and clump together; hemolysins, such as alpha toxin, that lyse red blood cells; and deoxyribonucleases that help the organism spread by degrading extracellular DNA. So the statement about endotoxin production is the one not associated with Staphylococcus aureus.