Abstract: A kit for use in detecting a bacterium having resistance to streptogramin A and related compounds is provided. A kit for use in detecting a bacterium harboring at least one polynucleotide encoding VgaB in a biological sample is also provided. The kits comprise at least one oligonucleotide probe and at least one reagent for performing a nucleic acid hybridization reaction.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to polynucleotides derived from staphylococcal genes encoding resistance to streptogramin A or to streptogramin B and chemically related compounds. This invention relates to the use of polynucleotides as oligonucleotide primers or probes for detecting Staphylococcal strains that are resistant to streptogramin A or to streptogramin B and related compounds in a biological sample. The present invention is directed to the full length coding sequences of the staphylococcal genes encoding for resistance to streptogramin A or to streptogramin B from Staphylococcus and to polypeptides expressed by these full length coding sequences. This invention relates to the use of the expressed polypeptides to produce specific monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies that serve as detection means in order to characterize any staphylococcal strain carrying genes encoding resistance to streptogramin A or to streptogramin B.