Molecular characteristics of the Taiwanese multiple drug-resistant ST59 clone of Panton-Valentine leucocidin-positive community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from pediatric cellulitis

J Infect Chemother. 2010 Apr;16(2):144-9. doi: 10.1007/s10156-010-0029-9. Epub 2010 Feb 9.

Abstract

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), which often produces Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL), has emerged worldwide as a life-threatening pathogen. Herein, we describe molecular characteristics of MRSA isolated from abdominal cellulitis in a 7-year-old Japanese boy. This MRSA was PVL-positive and belonged to the Taiwanese multiple drug-resistant CA-MRSA clone with the genotype of ST59, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) VII (SCCmecV, according to recent reclassification), agr1a (a novel agr1 subtype), and SaPI (which carried seb1, a newly designated variant seb gene). This study demonstrates the first isolation of the Taiwanese PVL-positive ST59 MRSA clone in Japan. The data also demonstrate novel subtypes in agr1 and seb and suggest that a combination of agr1a, seb1, and PVL could contribute to cellulitis (and its recurrence). Recently, a variety of PVL-positive MRSA clones are accumulating in Japan.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Toxins / biosynthesis*
  • Cellulitis / microbiology*
  • Child
  • Community-Acquired Infections / microbiology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Enterotoxins / genetics
  • Exotoxins / biosynthesis*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Leukocidins / biosynthesis*
  • Male
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism
  • Phylogeny
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Taiwan
  • Trans-Activators / genetics

Substances

  • Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Enterotoxins
  • Exotoxins
  • Leukocidins
  • Panton-Valentine leukocidin
  • Trans-Activators
  • enterotoxin B, staphylococcal