Seven novel variants of the staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Ireland

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates recovered in Irish hospitals between 1971 and 2002 were characterized using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) (n = 130) and SCCmec typing (n = 172). Where atypical SCCmec typing results were obtained, PCR amplification of entire SCCmec elements, analysis of amplimer mobility, and nucleotide sequencing were undertaken. MLST revealed that 129/130 isolates had the same genotypes as internationally spread MRSA clones, including ST239, ST247, ST250, ST5, ST22, ST36, and ST8. A novel genotype, ST496, was identified in one isolate. Half of the isolates (86/172) had SCCmec type I, IA, II, III, or IV. The remaining 86 isolates harbored novel SCCmec variants in three distinct genetic backgrounds: (i) 74/86 had genotype ST8 and either one of five novel SCCmec II (IIA, IIB, IIC, IID, and IIE) or one of two novel SCCmec IV (IVE and IVF) variants; (ii) 3/86 had genotype ST239 and a novel SCCmec III variant; (iii) 9/86 had a novel SCCmec I variant associated with ST250. SCCmec IVE and IVF were similar to SCCmec IVc and IVb, respectively, but differed in the region downstream of mecA. The five SCCmec II variants were similar to SCCmec IVb in the region upstream of the ccr complex but otherwise were similar to SCCmec II, except for the following regions: SCCmec IIA and IID had a novel mec complex, A.4 (Delta mecI-IS1182-Delta mecI-mecR1-mecA-IS431mec); SCCmec IIC and IIE had a novel mec complex, A.3 (IS1182-Delta mecI-mecR1-mecA-IS431mec); SCCmec IID and IIE lacked pUB110; SCCmec IIC and IIE lacked a region of DNA between Tn554 and the mec complex; and SCCmec IIB lacked Tn554. This study has demonstrated a hitherto-undescribed degree of diversity within SCCmec.     

DNA Microarray Profiling of a Diverse Collection of Nosocomial Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Assigns the Majority to the Correct Sequence Type and Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) Type and Results in the Subsequent Identification and Characterization of Novel SCCmec-SCCM1 Composite Islands

One hundred seventy-five isolates representative of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones that predominated in Irish hospitals between 1971 and 2004 and that previously underwent multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing were characterized by spa typing (175 isolates) and DNA microarray profiling (107 isolates). The isolates belonged to 26 sequence type (ST)-SCCmec types and subtypes and 35 spa types. The array assigned all isolates to the correct MLST clonal complex (CC), and 94% (100/107) were assigned an ST, with 98% (98/100) correlating with MLST. The array assigned all isolates to the correct SCCmec type, but subtyping of only some SCCmec elements was possible. Additional SCCmec/SCC genes or DNA sequence variation not detected by SCCmec typing was detected by array profiling, including the SCC-fusidic acid resistance determinant Q6GD50/fusC. Novel SCCmec/SCC composite islands (CIs) were detected among CC8 isolates and comprised SCCmec IIA-IIE, IVE, IVF, or IVg and a ccrAB4-SCC element with 99% DNA sequence identity to SCC(M1) from ST8/t024-MRSA, SCCmec VIII, and SCC-CI in Staphylococcus epidermidis. The array showed that the majority of isolates harbored one or more superantigen (94%; 100/107) and immune evasion cluster (91%; 97/107) genes. Apart from fusidic acid and trimethoprim resistance, the correlation between isolate antimicrobial resistance phenotype and the presence of specific resistance genes was ≥97%. Array profiling allowed high-throughput, accurate assignment of MRSA to CCs/STs and SCCmec types and provided further evidence of the diversity of SCCmec/SCC. In most cases, array profiling can accurately predict the resistance phenotype of an isolate.     

Novel non-mecA-containing staphylococcal chromosomal cassette composite island containing pbp4 and tagF genes in a commensal staphylococcal species: a possible reservoir for antibiotic resistance islands in Staphylococcus aureus

Among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates, a staphylococcal chromosomal cassette containing the mecA gene (SCCmec) is integrated into the chromosome at a unique site. SCCmec also contains unique ccrAB recombinase genes mediating its integration and excision from the genome and is flanked by characteristic left and right direct- and inverted-repeat sequences. A few non-mecA-containing SCC elements that have the other molecular features described above have recently been described. The origin of these cassettes is not clear. We have identified two new members of the SCC family integrated within orfX in Staphylococcus epidermidis strain ATCC 12228, neither of which carries mecA. One is a 57-kb element flanked by a unique 28-bp SCC direct repeat. It was called the SCC composite island (SCC-CI) because it carries a 19-kb SCC element (SCCpbp4) nested within it. SCCpbp4 contains pbp4 and tagF genes, as well as one pair of ccrAB genes (allotype 2) flanked by classical SCC-specific terminal repeats. External to SCCpbp4, SCC-CI contains a second pair of ccrAB genes (allotype 4), three IS431 elements, and genes mediating resistance to heavy metals. Genes mediating restriction-modification that may facilitate horizontal transfer are also present within SCC-CI, both within and outside SCCpbp4. Several novel arrangements of the SCC direct and inverted repeats were identified. Several long stretches of homology with other SCCs were found within and outside SCCpbp4. In view of the fact that SCC-CI was found in a commensal species, it may represent a reservoir for sequences involved in genetic shuffling between staphylococci and may contribute to the diversity found in SCC elements.     

六年间血流感染的金黄色葡萄球菌的分子特征分析

目的 分析上海三级甲等医院2004-2010年血流感染的金黄色葡萄球菌克隆分型特点以及随时间的变化趋势,检测不同克隆株耐药和毒力基因携带情况.方法 收集上海华山医院2004-2010年从不同患者血液样本中分离鉴定的金黄色葡萄球菌103株,通过苯唑西林MIC测定和SCCrnec基因分型等方法对MRSA进行检测;按照国际通用的多位点保守基因测序(MLST)以及葡萄球菌A蛋白序列分析(spa typing)方法进行克隆株的鉴定分析,采用PCR方法对103株细菌的耐药以及毒力基因携带情况进行分析.结果 103株金黄色葡萄球菌共检出MRSA66株(64.1%),其中SCCmecⅡ型35株,SCCmecⅢ型29株,SCCmecⅣ型2株,MSSA 37株(35.9%).66株MRSA的克隆分型以ST5(33株)和ST239(29株)为主,另外还包括2株ST59.1株ST641,1株ST6;其他克隆型均为MSSA.从2009年开始ST5和ST239克隆株在血流感染中的分离率明显下降(ST5从52.9%降至15.4%;ST239从61.1%降至15.4%),而其他类型以及新出现的MSSA克隆株分离率明显增加(如2009年ST7分离率为41.7%;2010年新出现ST188及ST15等),2010年血流感染的MSSA为84.6%.103株金黄色葡萄球菌mupA耐药基因阳性19株(18.4%),qacA/B耐药基因阳性41株(39.8%),70.6%的ST239杀菌剂耐药基因qacA/B阳性.在这103株血流感染的金黄色葡萄球菌中发现5株动物来源的克隆株,分别为4株ST398以及1株ST9.22个毒力基因除了sasX、lukSF以及arcA外,同一克隆株无论MRSA还是MSSA其毒力基因携带情况无明显差异,但是不同克隆株携带毒力基因有明显的差异.结论 以ST5和ST239为主的MRSA在血流感染中的分离率明显下降,新的MSSA克隆株分离率明显增加,不同的克隆株耐药以及毒力基因的携带情况存在明显差别.     

Molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream isolates from Croatia

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were (i) to investigate the genetic background of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream isolates from Croatia and (ii) to monitor the prevalence of Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) among these isolates. METHODS: Eighty-two hospital-acquired MRSA bloodstream isolates, collected in 2001 and 2002 in Croatia, were characterized by PFGE, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The presence of genes encoding PVL and TSST-1 was investigated by real-time PCR. RESULTS: All strains were multiresistant and were distributed among 16 different similarity groups as determined by PFGE. Two of the groups, groups H and K, harboured the majority of the MRSA strains with 52 and 12%, respectively. The predominant SCCmec type found among the isolates was type I (89%). Eleven per cent of the strains harboured a modified SCCmec type III, which contained, in contrast to the regular type III, an additional dcs region. One strain harboured a novel SCCmec type, containing the ccrC gene in combination with the mecI gene, the dcs region, the locus between pI258 and Tn554 (locus E) and the locus between Tn554 and orfX (locus F). MLST showed the presence of ST111-MRSA-I and ST247-MRSA-I among Croatian MRSA isolates. All isolates were negative for both PVL and TSST-1. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the emergence of ST111-MRSA-I and ST247-MRSA-I in Croatia among MRSA bloodstream isolates. The virulence factors PVL and TSST-1 were not present among these isolates.     

Detection of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type XI carrying highly divergent mecA, mecI, mecR1, blaZ, and ccr genes in human clinical isolates of clonal complex 130 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin resistance in staphylococci is mediated by penicillin binding protein 2a (PBP 2a), encoded by mecA on mobile staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) elements. In this study, two clonal complex 130 (CC130) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from patients in Irish hospitals were identified that were phenotypically PBP 2a positive but lacked mecA by conventional PCR and by DNA microarray screening. The isolates were identified as methicillin-susceptible S. aureus using the GeneXpert real-time PCR assay. Whole-genome sequencing of one isolate (M10/0061) revealed a 30-kb SCCmec element encoding a class E mec complex with highly divergent blaZ-mecA-mecR1-mecI, a type 8 cassette chromosome recombinase (ccr) complex consisting of ccrA1-ccrB3, an arsenic resistance operon, and flanking direct repeats (DRs). The SCCmec element was almost identical to that of SCCmec type XI (SCCmec XI) identified by the Sanger Institute in sequence type 425 bovine MRSA strain LGA251 listed on the website of the International Working Group on the Classification of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Elements. The open reading frames (ORFs) identified within SCCmec XI of M10/0061 exhibited 21 to 93% amino acid identity to ORFs in GenBank. A third DR was identified ca. 3 kb downstream of SCCmec XI, indicating the presence of a possible SCC remnant. SCCmec XI was also identified in the second CC130 MRSA isolate by PCR and sequencing. The CC130 MRSA isolates may be of animal origin as previously reported CC130 S. aureus strains were predominantly from bovine sources. The highly divergent nature of SCCmec XI relative to other SCCmec elements indicates that it may have originated in another taxon.     

Related clones containing SCCmec type IV predominate among clinically significant Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates

SCCmec is a mobile genetic element that carries the gene (mecA) mediating methicillin resistance in staphylococci. For Staphylococcus aureus, four SCCmec types have been described, one (type IV) of which has been associated with newly identified community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus. However, the distribution of SCCmec types among S. epidermidis is not known. SCCmec typing of a collection of 44 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) isolates recovered between 1973 and 1983 from the blood of patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) was performed by PCR amplification of key genetic elements (mecA, mecI, IS1272, and ccrAB). Of the 44 isolates, 1 (2%) harbored SCCmec type I, 15 (34%) harbored type II, 12 (28%) harbored type III, and 16 (36%) harbored type IV. The complete nucleotide sequence of SCCmec type IV was determined for 16 isolates and found to be identical in size (24 kb) and 98% homologous to DNA sequences published for S. aureus. Type IV SCCmec was also common (5 of 10 isolates) among a geographically dispersed collection of 10 recent (1998 to 2001) S. epidermidis bloodstream isolates. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) (using the same seven genes presently employed for S. aureus MLST) of these MRSE isolates and of 10 additional recent geographically dispersed methicillin-susceptible isolates demonstrated that all 16 PVE isolates and 2 of 5 recent isolates harboring type IV SCCmec were in three related clonal groups. All three MSSE PVE isolates recovered from patients between 1976 and 1979 were in the same clonal groups as type IV SCCmec MRSE isolates. These data support the hypothesis of intra- and interspecies transfer of type IV SCCmec and suggest that there are clonal associations in S. epidermidis that correlate with SCCmec type.     

金黄色葡萄球菌的药敏表型和耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌的SCCmec基因分型

目的研究从临床标本中分离的金黄色葡萄球菌（SA）的耐药性、耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（MRSA）的发生率及其葡萄球菌盒式染体色mec（SCCmec）基因分型。方法采用纸片琼脂扩散法进行SA耐药性检测及MRSA测定,应用多重聚合酶链反应（PCR）进行SCCmec各基因型及PV杀白细胞素（PVL）基因型的检测。结果 102株SA中检出39株MRSA,检出率为38.2%（39/102）。甲氧西林敏感金黄色葡萄球菌（MSSA）对克林霉素、复方磺胺甲口恶唑、四环素3种抗菌药物耐药率较高,分别为39.7%、31.7%、22.2%;对庆大霉素及喹诺酮类耐药率较低,为6.3%~14.3%。而MRSA对克林霉素、β-内酰胺类抗菌药物100%耐药,对其他药物表现为多重耐药。未检出万古霉素耐药菌株。MRSA菌株的SCCmec基因型以SCCmecⅢ型为主,占71.2%,SCCmecⅣa占10.3%,未检测出PVL基因。结论临床分离的SA中,MRSA耐药率较MSSA高且表现为多重耐药,其SCCmec基因分型主要表现为SCCmecⅢ型,其次是SCCmecⅣa。     

Molecular typing of methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolated from cats and dogs

OBJECTIVES: Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) isolates from healthy and diseased cats and dogs were characterized by staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and cassette chromosome recombinase gene (ccrAB) sequencing. METHODS: PCR-directed SCCmec typing was carried out for all MRS isolates and two Staphylococcus aureus and two Staphylococcus epidermidis strains were analysed by MLST. Strains belonging to SCCmec type III and IV were sequenced for their ccrAB gene of allotypes 3 and 2, respectively. RESULTS: Five types of SCCmec, types I, III, IV, IV (paediatric) and V SCCmec, were found. The S. aureus strains belonged to sequence type (ST) 239 and the two S. epidermidis belonged to ST43 and ST60 respectively. High sequence conservation was observed for the ccrAB gene of allotypes 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: MRS isolates from cats and dogs demonstrate a similar diversity of SCCmec types to those found in human staphylococci and ST239-MRSA-III, a widely dispersed strain in human hospitals, was identified in diseased dogs.     

Molecular and epidemiological evidence for spread of multiresistant methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains in hospitals

The excision of the staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains results in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strains. In order to determine the proportion and diversity of multidrug-resistant MSSA (MR-MSSA) strains derived from MRSA strains, 247 mecA-negative isolates recovered in 60 French hospitals between 2002 and 2004 were characterized. The spa types of all strains were determined, and a subset of the strains (n = 30) was further genotyped by multilocus sequence typing. The IDI-MRSA assay was used to test the isolates for the presence of the SCCmec element, which was detected in 68% of all isolates analyzed. Molecular analysis of the samples suggested that 92% of the MR-MSSA isolates were derived from MRSA clones of diverse genetic backgrounds, of which the clone of sequence type 8 and SCCmec type IV(A) accounted for most of the samples. High variations in incidence data and differences in the molecular characteristics of the isolates from one hospital to another indicate that the emergence of MR-MSSA resulted from independent SCCmec excisions from epidemic MRSA isolates, as well as the diffusion of methicillin-susceptible strains after the loss of SCCmec. MR-MSSA could constitute a useful model for the study of the respective genetic and environmental factors involved in the dissemination of S. aureus in hospitals.     

宁夏地区耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌分子流行病学研究

目的调查临床分离的耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（MRSA）的染色体m ec基因盒（SCCm ec）分型及杀白细胞素（PVL）的pvl基因携带率,初步了解宁夏地区MRSA分子流行病学特点。方法对2005年9月至2008年1月从临床标本中分离的MRSA菌株进行pvl基因检测,并应用多重聚合酶链反应（PCR）对MRSA菌株进行SCCm ec分型。结果 88株MRSA菌株中pvl基因阳性菌株8株（9.1%）,SCCm ec分型结果为Ⅲ型86株（97.7%）、Ⅱ型2株（2.3%）。结论宁夏地区分离的MRSA菌株SCCm ec分型以Ⅲ型为主,SCCm ec分型是探索MRSA多重耐药性有效的分子生物学手段。     

Different clonal complexes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are disseminated in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine region

The Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR) is formed by the border regions of Belgium, Germany, and The Netherlands. Cross-border health care requires infection control measures, in particular since the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) differs among the three countries. To investigate the dissemination of MRSA in the EMR, 152 MRSA isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), SCCmec typing, and multilocus sequence typing. PFGE revealed major clonal groups A, G, L, and Q, suggesting dissemination of MRSA in the EMR. Group A harbored mainly SCCmec type III and sequence types (STs) 239 and 241. The majority of the strains from group G harbored SCCmec type I and ST8 and ST247, whereas most strains from group L carried either SCCmec type IV or type I. Within group L, ST8 and ST228 were found, belonging to clonal complexes 8 and 5, respectively. Most strains from group Q included SCCmec type II and were sequence typed as ST225. Both ST225-MRSA-II and ST241-MRSA-III were novel findings in Germany. In addition, the SCCmec type of two isolates has not been described previously. One strain was classified as SCCmec type III but harbored the pls gene and the dcs region. Another strain was characterized as SCCmec type IV but lacked the dcs region. In addition, one isolate harbored both SCCmec type V and Panton-Valentine leukocidin. Finally, the SCCmec type of the strains was found to be correlated with the antibiotic susceptibility pattern.     

耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌耐药性，SCCmec分型及毒素基因的检测

目的调查北京大学第一医院致病性耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌SCCmec分型情况、耐药状况、PVL、TSST-1基因携带率,初步了解临床耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌的耐药原因,为临床感染控制提供依据。方法收集2007年9月至2008年3月住院患者首次分离的53株有致病意义MRSA,用全自动微生物分析仪进行药敏试验,应用PCR方法检测MBSA的SCCmec基因型、PVL、TSST-1基因。结果53株MRSA呈多重耐药特点,SCCmec分型以ⅢA为主（47．2％）,PVL基因均为阴性,12株（22％）MRSA TSST-1阳性。结论53株MILSA的多重耐药性与SCCmec结构密切相关,SCCmec分型技术是探索MRSA多重耐药性与耐药结构有效的分子生物学手段,TSST-1基因阳性株在临床分离的金黄色葡萄球菌中占有较高的比例。     

Local variants of Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec in sporadic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci: evidence of horizontal gene transfer?

The mecA gene in Staphylococcus aureus is located on the genetic element staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC). Different SCCmecs have been classified according to their putative recombinase genes (ccrA and ccrB) and overall genetic composition. Clinical isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS; n = 39) and S. aureus (n = 20) from Norway, India, Italy, Finland, the United States, and the United Kingdom were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, which showed that most isolates were genetically unrelated. Cluster analyses of 16S rRNA gene and pta sequences confirmed the traditional biochemical species identification. The mecI, mecR1, mecA, and ccrAB genes were detected by PCRs, identifying 19 out of 20 S. aureus and 17 out of 39 CoNS isolates as carriers of one of the three published ccrAB pairs. New variants of SCCmec were identified, as well as CoNS isolates containing ccrAB genes without the mec locus. ccrAB and mec PCRs were verified by hybridization. Sequence alignments of ccrAB genes showed a high level of diversity between the ccrAB alleles from different isolates, i.e., 94 to 100% and 95 to 100% homology for ccrAB1 and ccrAB2, respectively. All of the ccrAB3 genes identified were identical. Genetically unique and sporadic methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) contained local variants of ccrAB gene pairs identical to those found in MR-CoNS but different from those in MRSA from other regions. Allelic variants of ccrAB in isolates from the same geographic region showed sequence conservation independent of species. The species-independent sequence conservation found suggests that there is a closer genetic relationship between ccrAB2 in Norwegian staphylococci than between ccrAB2 sequences in international MRSA and Norwegian MRSA. This might indicate that different staphylococcal species acquire these genes locally by horizontal gene transfer.     

Multiple staphylococcal cassette chromosomes and allelic variants of cassette chromosome recombinases in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci from Norway

We investigated the nature of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) elements and cognate insertion sites in a collection of 42 clinical staphylococcal isolates of various species from Norway. The ccr and mec genes and the attachment sites (attL/attR) were identified by PCR, Southern blot hybridization, and DNA sequencing. We found 10 possibly new SCCmec types and one previously unreported variant of SCCmec type III (mec complex A, ccrAB3, and ccrC7) in Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus hominis. Eleven of 42 strains contained multiple copies of ccr, suggesting the presence of mosaic structures composed of multiple SCC elements. S. haemolyticus contained ccrAB2 genes identical to those in S. aureus SCCmec type IV but lacked IS1272 and mec regulators. Two new allelic ccr variants, ccrC6 and ccrC7, were identified. Also, the presumed functional version of ccrB1 was found in a mecA-positive S. hominis strain and in mecA-negative S. epidermidis and S. hominis strains. Only minor differences in direct repeats in the left and right boundaries (attR/attL) were observed, while there was more variation in the inverted repeats. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) contained several representatives of different ccr complexes and thus seemed to harbor multiple or composite new types of SCCmec. The enormous diversity observed in the SCCmec elements implies a large SCCmec reservoir in CoNS.     

62株临床分离耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌的SCCmec基因分型及耐药性分析

目的 了解医院耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)的SCCmec基因型别及耐药特征.方法 应用聚合酶链反应(PCR)技术检测MRSA菌株的mecA基因并对其进行分型,应用E-test法测试MRSA对万古霉素、替考拉宁、利奈唑胺、左氧氟沙星和利福平5种药物的MIC值.结果 62株MRSA的mecA基因全部阳性,SCCmecⅢ型60株,SCCmecⅣa型1株,还有1株用本实验方法未能分型.药敏试验显示所检菌株对万古霉素、替考拉宁和利奈唑胺均敏感,对左氧氟沙星和利福平的耐药率分别为96.8%和82.3%.结论 该院以SCCmecⅢ型为主要流行类型,治疗MRSA仍首选万古霉素等糖肽类抗菌药物.     

In vivo deletion of the methicillin resistance mec region from the chromosome of Staphylococcus aureus strains

Two sets of Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from two patients exhibited similar susceptibility profiles except for oxacillin susceptibility (MSSA) or resistance (MRSA). SMA:I macrorestriction and inter-IS256 PCR analysis showed patterns closely related to the Belgian epidemic MRSA clone 1 in each pair of MSSA/MRSA strains. Loss of one large SMA:I DNA fragment and concurrent gain of a smaller fragment in the MSSA isolates was observed. The mecA sequence present in the MRSA was absent in the MSSA variant. Therefore, in vivo deletion of the mec region may occur in some lineages of S. aureus more frequently than previously thought.     

鄂尔多斯地区蒙古族人群耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌基因分型

目的探讨鄂尔多斯地区蒙古族人群耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)的分子流行病学特点,明确本地区MRSA基因型别及其分布规律。方法收集2009年1月至2011年8月临床分离的MRSA菌株54株。应用多重聚合酶链反应(PCR)对MRSA菌株进行葡萄球菌染色体mec(SCCmec)基因分型、杀白细胞毒素(PVL)毒力基因(pvl)和多位点序列分型(MLST)检测。结果 MRSA菌株的SCCmecⅠ~Ⅴ基因分型分别占0.00%、50.00%、46.30%、1.85%和1.85%;检测出1株pvl基因阳性;24株MRSA菌株MLST分型显示,ST239 13株(54.17%),ST59株(37.50%),ST5 9和ST7各1株(4.17%)。结论鄂尔多斯地区蒙古族人群MRSA菌株以SCCmecⅡ型和SCCmecⅢ型为主。     

Molecular identification and characterization of mannitol-negative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

We report on the isolation, molecular identification, and characterization of 5 mannitol-negative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from clinical samples in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, South Africa. Identification based on phenotypic testing and polymerase chain reaction detection of the S. aureus species-specific nuc gene and the coagulase gene indicated that the mannitol-negative isolates were S. aureus. Furthermore, they were mecA positive, and SCCmec typing demonstrated that all the isolates harbored type IV SCCmec. API STAPH (Biomerieux, Marcy-l'Etoile, France) misidentified 2 mannitol-negative MRSA that belonged to the major clone in KZN province, as Staphylococcus lugdunensis. Although the prevalence and mechanism of mannitol-negative MRSA is unknown, laboratories are encouraged to investigate S. aureus with atypical characteristics.