Identification of fusB-mediated fusidic acid resistance islands in Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2011 Dec;55(12):5842-9. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00592-11. Epub 2011 Oct 3.

Abstract

To understand the high prevalence of fusB genes in fusidic acid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, analysis of resistance elements in 34 isolates was performed. First, sequence analysis of the aj1-LP-fusB region indicated that at least three types were present. Type I contained full-length aj1, type II contained a partial aj1 truncated from nucleotide position 93 to 421, and type III contained a more truncated aj1 that retained only the last 37 bp. Isolates with type I or type II aj1 displayed slightly higher levels of resistance to fusidic acid (MICs, 8 to 32 μg/ml) than did those with type III aj1 (MICs, 4 to 16 μg/ml). Subsequent sequencing of the flanking regions of fusB from four selected isolates carrying different types of aj1-LP-fusB regions revealed that the fusB genes were all located on phage-related resistance islands (RIs), referred to as SeRI(fusB)(-2793), SeRI(fusB)(-704), SeRI(fusB)(-5907), and SeRI(fusB)(-7778), respectively. Among them, three islands (SeRI(fusB)(-2793), SeRI(fusB)(-704), and SeRI(fusB)(-5907)) were located downstream of groEL (corresponding to the 44-min position based on Staphylococcus aureus whole genomic sequences), and one (SeRI(fusB)(-7778)) was located downstream of rpsR (corresponding to the 8-min position). All of the RIs were inserted into integrase-recognized att sites. Among 34 isolates, the insertion sites of fusB RIs were mostly (28/34, 82%) located downstream of groEL and two were located downstream of rpsR, but four remained unidentified. The pulsotype distribution indicated that fusB-containing S. epidermidis isolates were heterogeneous. In conclusion, the fusB resistance determinant in S. epidermidis was highly associated with phage-related RIs. This is the first report of fusB RI in S. epidermidis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Fusidic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Genomic Islands / genetics*
  • Hospitals
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus Phages / genetics
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / genetics
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / pathogenicity*
  • Taiwan / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Fusidic Acid

Associated data

  • GENBANK/JF777505
  • GENBANK/JF777506
  • GENBANK/JF808725
  • GENBANK/JF808726