scholarly journals Quorum Sensing, Virulence, and Antibiotic Resistance of USA100 Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates

mSphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan L. Grundstad ◽  
Corey P. Parlet ◽  
Jakub M. Kwiecinski ◽  
Jeffrey S. Kavanaugh ◽  
Heidi A. Crosby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Skin Infection ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Sensing System ◽  
Strain Collection ◽  
Quorum Sensing System ◽  
Mrsa Strains

ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections impact all patient populations both in the community and in health care settings. Despite advances in our knowledge of MRSA virulence, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of USA100 health care-associated MRSA isolates, which are the second most frequently identified MRSA isolates found in all infections. This work focused on the contribution of the USA100 agr type II quorum-sensing system to virulence and antibiotic resistance. From a MRSA strain collection, we selected 16 representative USA100 isolates, constructed mutants with Δagr mutations, and characterized selected strain pairs for virulence factor expression, murine skin infection, and antibiotic resistance. For each strain pair, hemolysis and extracellular protease expression were significantly greater in the wild-type (WT) strains than in the Δagr mutants. Similarly, mice challenged with the WT strains had larger areas of dermonecrosis and greater weight loss than those challenged with the Δagr mutants, demonstrating that the USA100 agr system regulates virulence. Although USA100 isolates exhibit a high level of antibiotic resistance, the WT and Δagr strain pairs showed no difference in MICs by MIC testing. However, in the presence of a sub-MIC of vancomycin, most of the USA100 Δagr mutants exhibited slower growth than the WT isolates, and a couple of the Δagr mutants also grew more slowly in the presence of a sub-MIC of cefoxitin. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that the USA100 agr system is a critical regulator of virulence, and it may have a contribution to the optimal survival of these MRSA strains in the presence of antibiotics. IMPORTANCE USA100 health care-associated MRSA isolates are highly antibiotic resistant and can cause invasive disease across all patient populations. Even though USA100 strains are some of the most frequently identified causes of infections, little is known about virulence regulation in these isolates. Our study demonstrates that the USA100 agr quorum-sensing system is important for the control of toxin and exoenzyme production and that the agr system has a key role in skin infection. In some USA100 isolates, the agr system is important for growth in the presence of low levels of antibiotics. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that the USA100 agr system is a critical regulator of virulence and that it may make a contribution to the optimal survival of these MRSA strains in the presence of antibiotics.

scholarly journals Comparison of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Cellulitis and from Osteomyelitis in a Taiwan Hospital, 2016–2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuo-Ti Peng ◽  
Tsung-Yu Huang ◽  
Yao-Chang Chiang ◽  
Yu-Yi Hsu ◽  
Fang-Yi Chuang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Joint Infection ◽  
Sccmec Type ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Mrsa Strains ◽  
Resistance Rates

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes superficial infections such as cellulitis or invasive infections such as osteomyelitis; however, differences in MRSA isolates from cellulitis (CL-MRSA) and from osteomyelitis (OM-MRSA) at the same local area remain largely unknown. A total of 221 MRSA isolates including 106 CL-MRSA strains and 115 OM-MRSA strains were collected at Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan between 2016 and 2018, and their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics were compared. We found that OM-MRSA isolates significantly exhibited higher rates of resistance to multiple antibiotics than CL-MRSA isolates. Genotypically, OM-MRSA isolates had higher proportions of the SCCmec type III, the sequence type ST239, and the spa type t037 than CL-MRSA isolates. Besides the multidrug-resistant lineage ST239-t037-SCCmecIII more prevalent in OM-MRSA, higher antibiotic resistance rates were also observed in several other prevalent lineages in OM-MRSA as compared to the same lineages in CL-MRSA. Furthermore, when prosthetic joint infection (PJI) associated and non-PJI-associated MRSA strains in osteomyelitis were compared, no significant differences were observed in antibiotic resistance rates between the two groups, albeit more diverse genotypes were found in non-PJI-associated MRSA. Our findings therefore suggest that deep infections may allow MRSA to evade antibiotic attack and facilitate the convergent evolution and selection of multidrug-resistant lineages.

scholarly journals Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Gene Characteristics of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Isolated from Healthy Edible Marine Fish

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Justine Fri ◽  
Henry A. Njom ◽  
Collins N. Ateba ◽  
Roland N. Ndip
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Marine Fish ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Virulence Gene ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Vancomycin Mics ◽  
Resistant Strains ◽  
Mrsa Strains

Thirty-three (33) isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from healthy edible marine fish harvested from two aquaculture settings and the Kariega estuary, South Africa, were characterised in this study. The phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility profiles to 13 antibiotics were determined, and their antibiotic resistance determinants were assessed. A multiplex PCR was used to determine the epidemiological groups based on the type of SCCmec carriage followed by the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin-encoding genes sea-sed and the Panton Valentine leucocidin gene (pvl). A high antibiotic resistance percentage (67–81%) was observed for Erythromycin, Ampicillin, Rifampicin, and Clindamycin, while maximum susceptibility to Chloramphenicol (100%), Imipenem (100%), and Ciprofloxacin (94%) was recorded. Nineteen (58%) of the MRSA strains had Vancomycin MICs of ≤2 μg/mL, 4 (12%) with MICs ranging from 4–8 μg/mL, and 10 (30%) with values ≥16 μg/mL. Overall, 27 (82%) isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) with Erythromycin-Ampicillin-Rifampicin-Clindamycin (E-AMP-RIP-CD) found to be the dominant antibiotic-resistance phenotype observed in 4 isolates. Resistance genes such as tetM, tetA, ermB, blaZ, and femA were detected in two or more resistant strains. A total of 19 (58%) MRSA strains possessed SCCmec types I, II, or III elements, characteristic of healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA), while 10 (30%) isolates displayed SCCmec type IVc, characteristic of community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). Six (18%) of the multidrug-resistant strains of MRSA were enterotoxigenic, harbouring the see, sea, or sec genes. A prevalence of 18% (6/33) was also recorded for the luk-PVL gene. The findings of this study showed that marine fish contained MDR-MRSA strains that harbour SCCmec types, characteristic of either HA-MRSA or CA-MRSA, but with a low prevalence of enterotoxin and pvl genes. Thus, there is a need for continuous monitoring and implementation of better control strategies within the food chain to minimise contamination of fish with MDR-MRSA and the ultimate spread of the bug.

scholarly journals Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST80 Clone: A Systematic Review

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Assia Mairi ◽  
Abdelaziz Touati ◽  
Jean-Philippe Lavigne
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Sampling Period ◽  
Spa Typing ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Resistance Patterns ◽  
Mrsa Strains ◽  
Spa Type

This review assessed the molecular characterization of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-ST80 clone with an emphasis on its proportion of total MRSA strains isolated, PVL production, spa-typing, antibiotic resistance, and virulence. A systematic review of the literature was conducted on MRSA-ST80 clone published between 1 January 2000 and 31 August 2019. Citations were chosen for a review of the full text if we found evidence that MRSA-ST80 clone was reported in the study. For each isolate, the country of isolation, the sampling period, the source of isolation (the type of infection, nasal swabs, or extra-human), the total number of MRSA strains isolated, number of MRSA-ST80 strains, antibiotic resistance patterns, PVL production, virulence genes, and spa type were recorded. The data from 103 articles were abstracted into an Excel database. Analysis of the data showed that the overall proportion of MRSA-ST80 has been decreasing in many countries in recent years. The majority of MRSA-ST80 were PVL positive with spa-type t044. Only six reports of MRSA-ST80 in extra-human niches were found. This review summarizes the rise of MRSA-ST80 and the evidence that suggests that it could be in decline in many countries.

scholarly journals Full-Genome Sequencing Identifies in the Genetic Background Several Determinants That Modulate the Resistance Phenotype in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Carrying the Novel mecC Gene

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Milheiriço ◽  
Hermínia de Lencastre ◽  
Alexander Tomasz
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Genetic Background ◽  
Beta Lactam ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Resistance Phenotype ◽  
Beta Lactam Antibiotics ◽  
Oxacillin Resistance ◽  
Mrsa Strains

ABSTRACT Most methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics due to the presence of the mecA gene, encoding an extra penicillin-binding protein (PBP2A) that has low affinity for virtually all beta-lactam antibiotics. Recently, a new resistance determinant—the mecC gene—was identified in S. aureus isolates recovered from humans and dairy cattle. Although having typically low MICs to beta-lactam antibiotics, MRSA strains with the mecC determinant are also capable of expressing high levels of oxacillin resistance when in an optimal genetic background. In order to test the impact of extensive beta-lactam selection on the emergence of mecC-carrying strains with high levels of antibiotic resistance, we exposed the prototype mecC-carrying MRSA strain, LGA251, to increasing concentrations of oxacillin. LGA251 was able to rapidly adapt to high concentrations of oxacillin in growth medium. In such laboratory mutants with increased levels of oxacillin resistance, we identified mutations in genes with no relationship to the mecC regulatory system, indicating that the genetic background plays an important role in the establishment of the levels of oxacillin resistance. Our data also indicate that the stringent stress response plays a critical role in the beta-lactam antibiotic resistance phenotype of MRSA strains carrying the mecC determinant.

scholarly journals Cross-Talk between Staphylococcus aureus and Other Staphylococcal Species via the agr Quorum Sensing System

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Canovas ◽  
Mara Baldry ◽  
Martin S. Bojer ◽  
Paal S. Andersen ◽  
Bengt H. Gless ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Cross Talk ◽  
Staphylococcal Species ◽  
Sensing System ◽  
Quorum Sensing System

Characterizing the Dynamics of the Quorum-Sensing System in Staphylococcus aureus

2004 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Gustafsson ◽  
Patric Nilsson ◽  
Stefan Karlsson ◽  
Staffan Arvidson
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Sensing System ◽  
Quorum Sensing System

scholarly journals Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL)-Positive Health Care-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Are Associated with Skin and Soft Tissue Infections and Colonized Mainly by Infective PVL-Encoding Bacteriophages

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiwen Hu ◽  
Hang Cheng ◽  
Wenchang Yuan ◽  
Fangyin Zeng ◽  
Weilong Shang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Soft Tissue Infections ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Mrsa Strains ◽  
Panton Valentine Leukocidin ◽  
Valentine Leukocidin

The emergence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a public health concern worldwide. PVL is associated with community-associated MRSA and is linked to skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). However, PVL genes have also been detected in health care-associated (HA) MRSA isolates. The diseases associated with PVL-positive HA-MRSA isolates and the distributions of PVL-encoding bacteriophages in HA-MRSA have not been determined. In this study, a total of 259 HA-MRSA strains isolated between 2009 and 2012 in China from inpatients with SSTIs, pneumonia, and bacteremia were selected for molecular typing, including staphylococcal cassette chromosomemectyping, multilocus sequence typing, and staphylococcal protein A gene typing. The PVL genes and PVL bacteriophages in the MRSA isolates were characterized by PCR. Among the tested MRSA isolates, 28.6% (74/259) were PVL positive. The high prevalence of PVL-carrying HA-MRSA was observed to be associated with SSTIs but not with pneumonia or bacteremia. The PVL-positive HA-MRSA isolates were colonized mainly by infective PVL phages, namely, Φ7247PVL, ΦSLT, and ΦSa2958. The distribution of PVL-carrying bacteriophages differed geographically. Our study highlights the potential risk of the emergence of multidrug-resistant HA-MRSA strains with increased virulence.

scholarly journals Inactivation of traP Has No Effect on the Agr Quorum-Sensing System or Virulence of Staphylococcus aureus

2007 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 4519-4527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey N. Shaw ◽  
Ing-Marie Jonsson ◽  
Vineet K. Singh ◽  
Andrej Tarkowski ◽  
George C. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Sensing System ◽  
Quorum Sensing System

ABSTRACT The success of Staphylococcus aureus as a pathogen can largely be attributed to the plethora of genetic regulators encoded within its genome that temporally regulate its arsenal of virulence determinants throughout its virulence lifestyle. Arguably the most important of these is the two-component, quorum-sensing system agr. Over the last decade, the controversial presence of a second quorum-sensing system (the TRAP system) has been proposed, and it has been mooted to function as the master regulator of virulence in S. aureus by modulating agr. Mutants defective in TRAP are reported to be devoid of agr expression, lacking in hemolytic activity, essentially deficient in the secretion of virulence determinants, and avirulent in infection models. A number of research groups have questioned the validity of the TRAP findings in recent years; however, a thorough and independent analysis of its role in S. aureus physiology and pathogenesis has not been forthcoming. Therefore, we have undertaken such an analysis of the TRAP locus of S. aureus. We found that a traP mutant was equally hemolytic as the wild-type strain. Furthermore, transcriptional profiling found no alterations in the traP mutant in expression levels of agr or in expression levels of multiple agr-regulated genes (hla, sspA, and spa). Analysis of secreted and surface proteins of the traP mutant revealed no deviation in comparison to the parent. Finally, analysis conducted using a murine model of S. aureus septic arthritis revealed that, in contrast to an agr mutant, the traP mutant was just as virulent as the wild-type strain.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document