THE ROLE OF CHOLESTEROL IN ENHANCING GROWTH OF Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

This is a prospective analytical case control study that used to assess the
effect of cholesterol in enhancing growth of Staphylococcus ,the effect of
different concentrations of cholesterol powder on growth of Staphylococcus
and the survival of Staphylococcus in obese and non obese sera.
Nutrient Agar (NA) was spread with different concentrations of cholesterol
powder and cholesterol sera. Agar plates without cholesterol were prepared
and used as controls. S.aureus at 10-7 cfu/ml was used at 0.25 ml to cover
each plate and was spread by glass rod, then incubated aerobically at 37o
C for
24 hours. Numbers of colonies on each plate were counted by digital colony
counter.
In this study significant differences were recorded between mean colony
counts of normal cholesterol sera (non-obese sera), border line high and high
cholesterol sera levels (obese sera). Also there was a significant difference
between mean colony count in obese and non-obese sera levels.
Significant differences were seen between mean colony counts of normal
cholesterol powder, border line high cholesterol powder and high cholesterol
powder Concentrations. The differences between different concentrations of
cholesterol powder on the effect growth of S.aureus were found significant.
The differences between mean colony counts in different levels of cholesterol
sera and different concentrations of cholesterol powder were significant.
A relation between the levels of serum cholesterol and the duration of growth
of S. aureus was noticed.
These results proved that the presence of high cholesterol levels in serum
may contribute to the proliferation of S.aureus