Images of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) cells observed by fluorescent microscopy when probes specific to SA (MSSA/MRSA) or the MR (to mec cassette - MRSA only) were applied. The fluorescent signals were acquired separately using three filter sets (DAPI for DNA and Cy3 or FITC for the RCA product). Images are superposition of two images: (SA-probe) DAPI and CY3; (MR-probe) DAPI and FITC. Signals were pseudocolored in blue for DAPI, red for CY3 and green for FITC.
SA-probes (PNA binding sites are underlined): SA-1: AAAGAAAAAGCAACAAGAGGAA SA-2: AGAGGAAGCAGAGCGCAAGGGAAA, SA-3: AAAAGAAGAAAGATTCAGAGGAAG;
MR-probes (within mecA gene for penicillin-binding protein): MR-1: AAGGAGGATATTGATGAAAAAGA, MR-2: GGAAGAAAAATATTATTTCCAAAGAAAA.