Location of the coagulase gene in Staphylococcus aureus.

The localization of the coagulase gene in Staphylococcus aureus JM 750 strain was investigated. S. aureus JM 750 strain in contrast to other S. aureus strains shows instability of coagulase production. This strain contains the 23.5 kb penicillinase plasmid, determining beta-lactamase synthesis and resistance to heavy metal salts, and a larger plasmid greater than 100 kb in size, which was detectable only in coagulase positive variants. The results suggest the unparalleled, extrachromosomal localization of the coagulase gene in S. aureus JM 750 strain.