Complete genome sequence of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus containing a heterogeneic staphylococcal cassette chromosome element

Sci China Life Sci. 2013 Mar;56(3):268-74. doi: 10.1007/s11427-013-4453-9. Epub 2013 Mar 23.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a common human bacterium that sometimes becomes pathogenic, causing serious infections. A key feature of S. aureus is its ability to acquire resistance to antibiotics. The presence of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) element in serotypes of S. aureus has been confirmed using multiplex PCR assays. The SCC element is the only vector known to carry the mecA gene, which encodes methicillin resistance in S. aureus infections. Here, we report the genome sequence of a novel methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strain: SCC-like MSSA463. This strain was originally erroneously serotyped as methicillin-resistant S. aureus in a clinical laboratory using multiplex PCR methods. We sequenced the genome of SCC-like MSSA463 using pyrosequencing techniques and compared it with known genome sequences of other S. aureus isolates. An open reading frame (CZ049; AB037671) was identified downstream of attL and attR inverted repeat sequences. Our results suggest that a lateral gene transfer occurred between S. aureus and other organisms, partially changing S. aureus infectivity. We propose that attL and attR inverted repeats in S. aureus serve as frequent insertion sites for exogenous genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacteriophages / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Bacterial / genetics*
  • DNA Transposable Elements / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Genes, Bacterial / genetics
  • Genome, Bacterial*
  • Genomic Islands / genetics
  • Humans
  • Methicillin Resistance / genetics*
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Penicillin-Binding Proteins
  • Phylogeny
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Species Specificity
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / classification
  • Staphylococcus aureus / genetics*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity
  • Virulence / genetics

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Viral
  • MecI protein, Staphylococcus
  • Penicillin-Binding Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus
  • mecR1 protein, Staphylococcus aureus