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Jin Y, Zhou W, Ge Q, Shen P, Xiao Y. Epidemiology and clinical features of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections Caused by PVL-Positive and PVL-Negative Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates in inpatients in China: a single-center retrospective 7-year study. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2316809. [PMID: 38323591 PMCID: PMC10883109 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2316809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies have mainly focused on outpatient cases of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), with limited attention to inpatient occurrences. Thus, we aimed to compare the clinical parameters of inpatients with SSTIs, performed genomic characterization, and determined the subtypes of Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) bacteriophages of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from these patients. We found that PVL-positive patients had shorter hospital stays (mean, 9 vs. 24 days; p < 0.001) and abscess resolution durations (mean, 8 vs. 13 days; p < 0.01). PVL-positive MRSA-induced SSTIs were more frequently associated with abscesses [36/55 (65.5%) vs. 15/124 (12.1%), p < 0.001], with 52.7% undergoing incision and drainage; over 80% of PVL-negative patients received incision, drainage, and antibiotics. In PVL-positive patients receiving empirical antibiotics, anti-staphylococcal agents such as vancomycin and linezolid were administered less frequently (32.7%, 18/55) than in PVL-negative patients (74.2%, 92/124), indicating that patients with PVL-positive SSTIs are more likely to require surgical drainage rather than antimicrobial treatment. We also found that the ST59 lineage was predominant, regardless of PVL status (41.3%, 74/179). Additionally, we investigated the linear structure of the lukSF-PV gene, revealing that major clusters were associated with specific STs, suggesting independent acquisition of PVL by different strain types and indicating that significant diversity was observed even within PVL-positive strains detected in the same facility. Overall, our study provides comprehensive insights into the clinical, genetic, and phage-related aspects of MRSA-induced SSTIs in hospitalized patients and contributes to a more profound understanding of the epidemiology and evolution of these pathogens in the Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Jin
- Department of General Intensive Care Unit, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Early Warning and Intervention of Multiple Organ Failure, China National Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wangxiao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Ge
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Shen
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonghong Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Monecke S, Burgold-Voigt S, Braun SD, Diezel C, Liebler-Tenorio EM, Müller E, Nassar R, Reinicke M, Reissig A, Senok A, Ehricht R. Characterisation of PVL-Positive Staphylococcus argenteus from the United Arab Emirates. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:401. [PMID: 38786130 PMCID: PMC11117363 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13050401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus argenteus is a recently described staphylococcal species that is related to Staphylococcus aureus but lacks the staphyloxanthin operon. It is able to acquire both resistance markers such as the SCCmec elements and mobile genetic elements carrying virulence-associated genes from S. aureus. This includes those encoding the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), which is associated mainly with severe and/or recurrent staphylococcal skin and soft tissue infections. Here, we describe the genome sequences of two PVL-positive, mecA-negative S. argenteus sequence type (ST) 2250 isolates from the United Arab Emirates in detail. The isolates were found in a dental clinic in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Both were sequenced using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). This demonstrated the presence of temperate bacteriophages in the staphylococcal genomes, including a PVL prophage. It was essentially identical to the published sequence of phiSa2wa_st78 (GenBank NC_055048), a PVL phage from an Australian S. aureus clonal complex (CC) 88 isolate. Besides the PVL prophage, one isolate carried another prophage and the second isolate carried two additional prophages, whereby the region between these two prophages was inverted. This "flipped" region comprised about 1,083,000 bp, or more than a third of the strain's genome, and it included the PVL prophage. Prophages were induced by Mitomycin C treatment and subjected to transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This yielded, in accordance to the sequencing results, one or, respectively, two distinct populations of icosahedral phages. It also showed prolate phages which presumptively might be identified as the PVL phage. This observation highlights the significance bacteriophages have as agents of horizontal gene transfer as well as the need for monitoring emerging staphylococcal strains, especially in cosmopolitan settings such as the UAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Monecke
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI), 07745 Jena, Germany (A.R.); (R.E.)
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Sindy Burgold-Voigt
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI), 07745 Jena, Germany (A.R.); (R.E.)
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha D. Braun
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI), 07745 Jena, Germany (A.R.); (R.E.)
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Celia Diezel
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI), 07745 Jena, Germany (A.R.); (R.E.)
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | | | - Elke Müller
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI), 07745 Jena, Germany (A.R.); (R.E.)
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Rania Nassar
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates (A.S.)
| | - Martin Reinicke
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI), 07745 Jena, Germany (A.R.); (R.E.)
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Annett Reissig
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI), 07745 Jena, Germany (A.R.); (R.E.)
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Abiola Senok
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates (A.S.)
- School of Dentistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK
| | - Ralf Ehricht
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI), 07745 Jena, Germany (A.R.); (R.E.)
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany
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Senok A, Monecke S, Nassar R, Celiloglu H, Thyagarajan S, Müller E, Ehricht R. Lateral Flow Immunoassay for the Detection of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin in Staphylococcus aureus From Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in the United Arab Emirates. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:754523. [PMID: 34733796 PMCID: PMC8558463 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.754523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a virulence factor which is associated with methicillin sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA/MRSA) causing skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). This study aimed to evaluate a novel lateral flow immunoassay (LFI) for PVL detection in S. aureus cultures and to describe their genotypic characterization. Methods The study was carried out from January-August 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. S. aureus isolates associated with SSTI were tested for PVL detection using LFI. DNA microarray-based assays were used for molecular characterization including detection of pvl genes. Results One-hundred thirty-five patients with a clinical diagnosis of SSTIs were recruited. Sixty-six patients received antibiotics, mostly beta lactams (n=36) and topical fusidic acid (n=15). One-hundred twenty-nine isolates (MRSA: n=43; MSSA: n=86) were tested by LFI and DNA microarrays. All 76 (58.9%) isolates which were unambiguously negative for the PVL in LFI were negative for pvl genes using the DNA microarray. All the LFI PVL positive isolates (n=53) had pvl genes detected. This translates into 100% each for sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the LFI. The LFI typically takes about 15 min inclusive of a 10 min incubation period. Predominant S. aureus clonal complexes (CC) were CC30 (n=18), CC22 (n=13), CC5 (n=12), CC1 (n=11), CC152 (n=8), CC15 (n=7); CC97 (n=7); CC8 and CC20 (n=6 each). Among MRSA, the proportion of pvl-positives (35/43; 81%) was higher than among MSSA (n/N=18/86; 21%). The fusidic acid resistance gene fusC was detected in 14 MRSA (33%) compared to 8 MSSA (9%). A co-carriage of fusC and pvl genes was present in 7 MRSA and in one MSSA. Conclusion LFI shows excellent diagnostic accuracy indices for rapid identification of PVL in MSSA/MRSA in a setting with high prevalence of pvl+ve strains. The high occurrence of pvl and fusC genes in MRSA strains causing SSTI is of concern and needs constant surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abiola Senok
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Stefan Monecke
- Department of Optical Molecular Diagnostics and System Technology, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Jena, Germany.,InfectoGnostics Research Campus, Jena, Germany.,Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, Dresden University Hospital, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rania Nassar
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.,Oral and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Handan Celiloglu
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sreeraj Thyagarajan
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Elke Müller
- Department of Optical Molecular Diagnostics and System Technology, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Jena, Germany.,InfectoGnostics Research Campus, Jena, Germany
| | - Ralf Ehricht
- Department of Optical Molecular Diagnostics and System Technology, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Jena, Germany.,InfectoGnostics Research Campus, Jena, Germany.,Institute of Physical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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Naorem RS, Goswami G, Gyorgy S, Fekete C. Comparative analysis of prophages carried by human and animal-associated Staphylococcus aureus strains spreading across the European regions. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18994. [PMID: 34556764 PMCID: PMC8460829 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98432-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major human and animal pathogen although the animal-associated S. aureus can be a potential risk of human zoonoses. Acquisition of phage-related genomic islands determines the S. aureus species diversity. This study characterized and compared the genome architecture, distribution nature, and evolutionary relationship of 65 complete prophages carried by human and animal-associated S. aureus strains spreading across the European regions. The analyzed prophage genomes showed mosaic architecture with extensive variation in genome size. The phylogenetic analyses generated seven clades in which prophages of the animal-associated S. aureus scattered in all the clades. The S. aureus strains with the same SCCmec type, and clonal complex favored the harboring of similar prophage sequences and suggested that the frequency of phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer is higher between them. The presence of various virulence factors in prophages of animal-associated S. aureus suggested that these prophages could have more pathogenic potential than prophages of human-associated S. aureus. This study showed that the S. aureus phages are dispersed among the several S. aureus serotypes and around the European regions. Further, understanding the phage functional genomics is necessary for the phage-host interactions and could be used for tracing the S. aureus strains transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romen Singh Naorem
- grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479Department of General and Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biology and Sport Biology, University of Pécs, Ifjusag utja. 6, Pecs, 7624 Hungary
| | - Gunajit Goswami
- Multidisciplinary Research Unit, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam India
| | - Schneider Gyorgy
- grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Csaba Fekete
- grid.9679.10000 0001 0663 9479Department of General and Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biology and Sport Biology, University of Pécs, Ifjusag utja. 6, Pecs, 7624 Hungary
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Najafi Olya Z, Najar-Peerayeh S, Yadegar A, Bakhshi B. Clonal diversity and genomic characterization of Panton-valentine Leukocidin (PVL)-positive Staphylococcus aureus in Tehran, Iran. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:372. [PMID: 33882854 PMCID: PMC8058961 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06060-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Some Staphylococcus aureus strains produce Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a bi-component pore-forming toxin, which causes leukocyte lysis and tissue necrosis. Currently, there is very limited information on the molecular epidemiology of PVL-encoding S. aureus strains in Iran. This study aimed to determine the molecular epidemiology and genetic background of PVL-positive S. aureus clinical strains isolated from Iranian patients. Methods A total of 28 PVL-positive S. aureus strains were detected from 600 S. aureus isolates between February 2015 and March 2018 from different hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Molecular genotyping was performed using SCCmec and accessory gene regulator (agr) typing, PVL haplotyping, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results The highest antibiotic resistance rate was found to be against erythromycin (57.1%), followed by ciprofloxacin (42.8%) and clindamycin (35.7%). Moreover, 19 (67.9%) out of 28 S. aureus isolates were identified as MRSA, including CA-MRSA (14/19, 73.7%) and HA-MRSA (5/19, 26.3%). SCCmec type IVa was detected as the predominant type (10/19, 52.6%), followed by type III (5/19, 26.3%) and type V (4/19, 21.1%). The agr type I was identified as the most common type (14/28, 50%), and H and R haplotype groups were observed at frequencies of 67.9 and 32.1%, respectively. Among H variants, the predominant variant was H2 (78/9%). The isolates encompassed 21 different sequence types (STs), including 16 new STs (ST5147 to ST5162). Based on eBURST analysis, the isolates were clustered into five CCs, including CC30, CC22, CC1, CC8, and CC5 (ST5160), and nine singletons. PFGE typing showed that 24 isolates were clustered into A (4 pulsotypes), B (9 pulsotypes), and C (11 pulsotypes) clusters. Conclusions A high prevalence of PVL-positive CA-MRSA strains was detected in Iran. The majority of PVL-positive isolates were of H (mostly H2) variant, while R variant was harbored by 100% of PVL-positive MRSA strains. Also, CC8, CC22, and CC30 were identified as the dominant clones among PVL-encoding S. aureus strains. This study promotes a better understanding of the molecular epidemiology and evolution of PVL-positive S. aureus strains in Iran.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Najafi Olya
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal-Ale-Ahmad Ave, Tehran, 14117-13116, Iran
| | - Shahin Najar-Peerayeh
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal-Ale-Ahmad Ave, Tehran, 14117-13116, Iran
| | - Abbas Yadegar
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bita Bakhshi
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal-Ale-Ahmad Ave, Tehran, 14117-13116, Iran.
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Abril AG, Carrera M, Böhme K, Barros-Velázquez J, Cañas B, Rama JLR, Villa TG, Calo-Mata P. Proteomic Characterization of Bacteriophage Peptides from the Mastitis Producer Staphylococcus aureus by LC-ESI-MS/MS and the Bacteriophage Phylogenomic Analysis. Foods 2021; 10:799. [PMID: 33917943 PMCID: PMC8068337 DOI: 10.3390/foods10040799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The present work describes LC-ESI-MS/MS MS (liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry) analyses of tryptic digestion peptides from phages that infect mastitis-causing Staphylococcus aureus isolated from dairy products. A total of 1933 nonredundant peptides belonging to 1282 proteins were identified and analyzed. Among them, 79 staphylococcal peptides from phages were confirmed. These peptides belong to proteins such as phage repressors, structural phage proteins, uncharacterized phage proteins and complement inhibitors. Moreover, eighteen of the phage origin peptides found were specific to S. aureus strains. These diagnostic peptides could be useful for the identification and characterization of S. aureus strains that cause mastitis. Furthermore, a study of bacteriophage phylogeny and the relationship among the identified phage peptides and the bacteria they infect was also performed. The results show the specific peptides that are present in closely related phages and the existing links between bacteriophage phylogeny and the respective Staphylococcus spp. infected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana G. Abril
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15898 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (A.G.A.); (J.-L.R.R.); (T.G.V.)
| | - Mónica Carrera
- Department of Food Technology, Spanish National Research Council, Marine Research Institute, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Karola Böhme
- Agroalimentary Technological Center of Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain;
| | - Jorge Barros-Velázquez
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain;
| | - Benito Cañas
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - José-Luis R. Rama
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15898 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (A.G.A.); (J.-L.R.R.); (T.G.V.)
| | - Tomás G. Villa
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15898 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (A.G.A.); (J.-L.R.R.); (T.G.V.)
| | - Pilar Calo-Mata
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain;
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Moller AG, Winston K, Ji S, Wang J, Hargita Davis MN, Solís-Lemus CR, Read TD. Genes Influencing Phage Host Range in Staphylococcus aureus on a Species-Wide Scale. mSphere 2021; 6:e01263-20. [PMID: 33441407 PMCID: PMC7845607 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.01263-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a human pathogen that causes serious diseases, ranging from skin infections to septic shock. Bacteriophages (phages) are both natural killers of S. aureus, offering therapeutic possibilities, and important vectors of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the species. Here, we used high-throughput approaches to understand the genetic basis of strain-to-strain variation in sensitivity to phages, which defines the host range. We screened 259 diverse S. aureus strains covering more than 40 sequence types for sensitivity to eight phages, which were representatives of the three phage classes that infect the species. The phages were variable in host range, each infecting between 73 and 257 strains. Using genome-wide association approaches, we identified putative loci that affect host range and validated their function using USA300 transposon knockouts. In addition to rediscovering known host range determinants, we found several previously unreported genes affecting bacterial growth during phage infection, including trpA, phoR, isdB, sodM, fmtC, and relA We used the data from our host range matrix to develop predictive models that achieved between 40% and 95% accuracy. This work illustrates the complexity of the genetic basis for phage susceptibility in S. aureus but also shows that with more data, we may be able to understand much of the variation. With a knowledge of host range determination, we can rationally design phage therapy cocktails that target the broadest host range of S. aureus strains and address basic questions regarding phage-host interactions, such as the impact of phage on S. aureus evolution.IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus is a widespread, hospital- and community-acquired pathogen, many strains of which are antibiotic resistant. It causes diverse diseases, ranging from local to systemic infection, and affects both the skin and many internal organs, including the heart, lungs, bones, and brain. Its ubiquity, antibiotic resistance, and disease burden make new therapies urgent. One alternative therapy to antibiotics is phage therapy, in which viruses specific to infecting bacteria clear infection. In this work, we identified and validated S. aureus genes that influence phage host range-the number of strains a phage can infect and kill-by testing strains representative of the diversity of the S. aureus species for phage host range and associating the genome sequences of strains with host range. These findings together improved our understanding of how phage therapy works in the bacterium and improve prediction of phage therapy efficacy based on the predicted host range of the infecting strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham G Moller
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (MMG) Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (GDBBS), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kyle Winston
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Shiyu Ji
- Eugene Gangarosa Laboratory Research Fellowship, Emory College Online & Summer Programs, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Junting Wang
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Michelle N Hargita Davis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Claudia R Solís-Lemus
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy D Read
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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D'Souza R, White RC, Buzzeo R, Goglin K, Vashee S, Lee Y, Son B, Ryu S, Fouts DE. Complete Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus aureus Phage SA75, Isolated from Goat Feces. Microbiol Resour Announc 2020; 9:e00114-20. [PMID: 32299871 PMCID: PMC7163009 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00114-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen causing serious human infections worldwide. Here, we report the complete annotated genome of bacteriophage SA75, a member of the Siphoviridae family which could be an alternative to traditional antibiotics for treating Staphylococcus infections. We used a hybrid approach combining MinION and Illumina MiSeq sequencing, which yielded a 43,134-bp genome and 65 open reading frames.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Karrie Goglin
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Yoona Lee
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Bokyung Son
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sangryeol Ryu
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
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9
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Ingmer H, Gerlach D, Wolz C. Temperate Phages of Staphylococcus aureus. Microbiol Spectr 2019; 7:10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0058-2018. [PMID: 31562736 PMCID: PMC10921950 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0058-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Most Staphylococcus aureus isolates carry multiple bacteriophages in their genome, which provide the pathogen with traits important for niche adaptation. Such temperate S. aureus phages often encode a variety of accessory factors that influence virulence, immune evasion and host preference of the bacterial lysogen. Moreover, transducing phages are primary vehicles for horizontal gene transfer. Wall teichoic acid (WTA) acts as a common phage receptor for staphylococcal phages and structural variations of WTA govern phage-host specificity thereby shaping gene transfer across clonal lineages and even species. Thus, bacteriophages are central for the success of S. aureus as a human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Ingmer
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David Gerlach
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christiane Wolz
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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10
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Staphylococcus aureus Toxins: From Their Pathogenic Roles to Anti-virulence Therapy Using Natural Products. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-019-0059-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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11
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Oliveira H, Sampaio M, Melo LDR, Dias O, Pope WH, Hatfull GF, Azeredo J. Staphylococci phages display vast genomic diversity and evolutionary relationships. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:357. [PMID: 31072320 PMCID: PMC6507118 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5647-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bacteriophages are the most abundant and diverse entities in the biosphere, and this diversity is driven by constant predator–prey evolutionary dynamics and horizontal gene transfer. Phage genome sequences are under-sampled and therefore present an untapped and uncharacterized source of genetic diversity, typically characterized by highly mosaic genomes and no universal genes. To better understand the diversity and relationships among phages infecting human pathogens, we have analysed the complete genome sequences of 205 phages of Staphylococcus sp. Results These are predicted to encode 20,579 proteins, which can be sorted into 2139 phamilies (phams) of related sequences; 745 of these are orphams and possess only a single gene. Based on shared gene content, these phages were grouped into four clusters (A, B, C and D), 27 subclusters (A1-A2, B1-B17, C1-C6 and D1-D2) and one singleton. However, the genomes have mosaic architectures and individual genes with common ancestors are positioned in distinct genomic contexts in different clusters. The staphylococcal Cluster B siphoviridae are predicted to be temperate, and the integration cassettes are often closely-linked to genes implicated in bacterial virulence determinants. There are four unusual endolysin organization strategies found in Staphylococcus phage genomes, with endolysins predicted to be encoded as single genes, two genes spliced, two genes adjacent and as a single gene with inter-lytic-domain secondary translational start site. Comparison of the endolysins reveals multi-domain modularity, with conservation of the SH3 cell wall binding domain. Conclusions This study provides a high-resolution view of staphylococcal viral genetic diversity, and insights into their gene flux patterns within and across different phage groups (cluster and subclusters) providing insights into their evolution. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5647-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Oliveira
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Marta Sampaio
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Luís D R Melo
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Oscar Dias
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Welkin H Pope
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Joana Azeredo
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
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12
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Recurrent Familial Furunculosis Associated with Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Positive Methicillin-SusceptibleStaphylococcus aureusST1. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.14776/piv.2018.25.e6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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13
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Bakthavatchalam YD, Nabarro LEB, Ralph R, Veeraraghavan B. Diagnosis and management of Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin associated Staphylococcus aureus infection: an update. Virulence 2017:0. [PMID: 28783418 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2017.1362532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of invasive Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infection has increased in the past decade and is associated with poor outcomes and high mortality rates. Of all the virulence factors, Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) has received the greatest attention. PVL producing SA strains are more likely to produce severe skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and necrotizing pneumonia. This review focuses on the current evidence on PVL-SA virulence, epidemiology, clinical disease and treatment with relevance to healthcare in India.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura E B Nabarro
- a Department of Clinical Microbiology , Christian Medical College , Vellore - 632004 , India
| | - Ravikar Ralph
- b Department of Medicine (unit II) , Christian Medical College , Vellore - 632004 , India
| | - Balaji Veeraraghavan
- a Department of Clinical Microbiology , Christian Medical College , Vellore - 632004 , India
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14
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Kraushaar B, Hammerl JA, Kienöl M, Heinig ML, Sperling N, Dinh Thanh M, Reetz J, Jäckel C, Fetsch A, Hertwig S. Acquisition of virulence factors in livestock-associated MRSA: Lysogenic conversion of CC398 strains by virulence gene-containing phages. Sci Rep 2017; 7:2004. [PMID: 28515479 PMCID: PMC5435737 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02175-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus MRSA strains belonging to the clonal complex 398 (CC398) are highly prevalent in livestock and companion animals but may also cause serious infections in humans. CC398 strains in livestock usually do not possess well-known virulence factors that can be frequently found in other MRSA sequence types (ST). Since many staphylococcal virulence genes are residing on the genomes of temperate phages, the question arises why livestock-associated (LA-) CC398 strains are only rarely infected by those phages. We isolated and characterized four temperate phages (P240, P282, P630 and P1105) containing genes of the immune evasion cluster (IEC) and/or for the Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL). Sequence analysis of the phage genomes showed that they are closely related to known phages and that the DNA region encoding lysis proteins, virulence factors and the integrase exhibits numerous DNA repeats which may facilitate genomic rearrangements. All phages lysed and lysogenized LA-CC398 strains. Integration of IEC phage P282 was detected at ten sites of the hosts' chromosome. The prophages were stably inherited in LA-CC398 and enterotoxin A, staphylokinase and PVL toxin were produced. The data demonstrate that lysogenic conversion of LA-CC398 strains by virulence-associated phages may occur and that new pathotypes may emerge by this mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britta Kraushaar
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Andre Hammerl
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marina Kienöl
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie Luise Heinig
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nina Sperling
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mai Dinh Thanh
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jochen Reetz
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Jäckel
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandra Fetsch
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Hertwig
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany.
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15
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Ozaki T, Abe N, Kimura K, Suzuki A, Kaneko J. Genomic analysis of Bacillus subtilis lytic bacteriophage ϕNIT1 capable of obstructing natto fermentation carrying genes for the capsule-lytic soluble enzymes poly-γ-glutamate hydrolase and levanase. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2016; 81:135-146. [PMID: 27885938 DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1232153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis strains including the fermented soybean (natto) starter produce capsular polymers consisting of poly-γ-glutamate and levan. Capsular polymers may protect the cells from phage infection. However, bacteriophage ϕNIT1 carries a γ-PGA hydrolase gene (pghP) that help it to counteract the host cell's protection strategy. ϕNIT had a linear double stranded DNA genome of 155,631-bp with a terminal redundancy of 5,103-bp, containing a gene encoding an active levan hydrolase. These capsule-lytic enzyme genes were located in the possible foreign gene cluster regions between central core and terminal redundant regions, and were expressed at the late phase of the phage lytic cycle. All tested natto origin Spounavirinae phages carried both genes for capsule degrading enzymes similar to ϕNIT1. A comparative genomic analysis revealed the diversity among ϕNIT1 and Bacillus phages carrying pghP-like and levan-hydrolase genes, and provides novel understanding on the acquisition mechanism of these enzymatic genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuro Ozaki
- a Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Naoki Abe
- a Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Keitarou Kimura
- b Laboratory of Applied Microbiology , Food Research Institute-National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NFRI-NARO) , Tsukuba , Japan
| | - Atsuto Suzuki
- a Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Jun Kaneko
- a Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
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Dunyach-Remy C, Ngba Essebe C, Sotto A, Lavigne JP. Staphylococcus aureus Toxins and Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Role in Pathogenesis and Interest in Diagnosis. Toxins (Basel) 2016; 8:toxins8070209. [PMID: 27399775 PMCID: PMC4963842 DOI: 10.3390/toxins8070209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2016] [Revised: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection of foot ulcers is a common, often severe and costly complication in diabetes. Diabetic foot infections (DFI) are mainly polymicrobial, and Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent pathogen isolated. The numerous virulence factors and toxins produced by S. aureus during an infection are well characterized. However, some particular features could be observed in DFI. The aim of this review is to describe the role of S. aureus in DFI and the implication of its toxins in the establishment of the infection. Studies on this issue have helped to distinguish two S. aureus populations in DFI: toxinogenic S. aureus strains (harboring exfoliatin-, EDIN-, PVL- or TSST-encoding genes) and non-toxinogenic strains. Toxinogenic strains are often present in infections with a more severe grade and systemic impact, whereas non-toxinogenic strains seem to remain localized in deep structures and bone involving diabetic foot osteomyelitis. Testing the virulence profile of bacteria seems to be a promising way to predict the behavior of S. aureus in the chronic wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Dunyach-Remy
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale U1047, Université de Montpellier, UFR de Médecine, Nîmes 30908, France.
- Service de Microbiologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Carémeau, Nîmes 30029, France.
| | - Christelle Ngba Essebe
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale U1047, Université de Montpellier, UFR de Médecine, Nîmes 30908, France.
| | - Albert Sotto
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale U1047, Université de Montpellier, UFR de Médecine, Nîmes 30908, France.
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Carémeau, Nîmes 30029, France.
| | - Jean-Philippe Lavigne
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale U1047, Université de Montpellier, UFR de Médecine, Nîmes 30908, France.
- Service de Microbiologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Carémeau, Nîmes 30029, France.
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17
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Shariati L, Validi M, Hasheminia AM, Ghasemikhah R, Kianpour F, Karimi A, Nafisi MR, Tabatabaiefar MA. Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Carrying Panton-Valentine Leucocidin Genes: Their Frequency, Antimicrobial Patterns, and Association With Infectious Disease in Shahrekord City, Southwest Iran. Jundishapur J Microbiol 2016; 9:e28291. [PMID: 27099685 PMCID: PMC4834141 DOI: 10.5812/jjm.28291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: A diversity of virulence factors work together to create the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus. These factors include cell surface components that promote adherence to surfaces as well as exoproteins such as Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), encoded by the luk-PV genes, that invade or bypass the immune system and are toxic to the host, thereby enhancing the severity of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of PVL-positive MRSA strains by real-time PCR and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns by phenotypic test. Materials and Methods: In total, 284 Staphylococcus isolates, identified by phenotypic methods from clinical samples of Shahrekord University Hospitals, Shahrekord, Iran, were tested for nuc, mecA, and PVL genes by TaqMan real-time PCR. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of PVL-containing MRSA strains were determined via the disk diffusion method. Results: In total, 196 isolates (69%) were nuc positive (i.e., S. aureus); of those isolates, 96 (49%) were mecA positive (MRSA). Eighteen (18.8%) of the 96 MRSA positive and 3 (3%) of the 100 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains were PVL positive. PVL-positive MRSA strains were mostly recovered from tracheal specimens. Eight PVL-positive MRSA strains were resistant to all the tested antibiotics except vancomycin. A significant correlation (P = 0.001) was found between the mecA positivity and the presence of luk-PV genes. Conclusions: Community acquired (CA)-MRSA is becoming a public health concern in many parts of the world, including Asian countries. The variable prevalence of luk-PV-positive MRSA isolates in different regions and their rather high frequency in pneumonia necessitate the application of rapid diagnostic methods such as real-time PCR to improve treatment effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laleh Shariati
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
| | - Majid Validi
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
| | - Ali Mohammad Hasheminia
- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran
| | - Reza Ghasemikhah
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, IR Iran
| | - Fariborz Kianpour
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran
| | - Ali Karimi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Nafisi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Tabatabaiefar
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran
- Pediatric Inherited Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran
- Corresponding author: Mohammad Amin Tabatabaiefar, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, P. O. Box: 81746-73461, Isfahan, IR Iran. Tel: +98-3137922487, Fax: +98-3136688597, E-mail:
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18
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Adhikari RP, Kort T, Shulenin S, Kanipakala T, Ganjbaksh N, Roghmann MC, Holtsberg FW, Aman MJ. Antibodies to S. aureus LukS-PV Attenuated Subunit Vaccine Neutralize a Broad Spectrum of Canonical and Non-Canonical Bicomponent Leukotoxin Pairs. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137874. [PMID: 26367030 PMCID: PMC4569305 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
S. aureus vaccine development has proven particularly difficult. The conventional approach to achieve sterile immunity through opsonophagocytic killing has been largely unsuccessful. S. aureus is highly toxigenic and a great body of evidence suggests that a successful future vaccine for this organism should target extracellular toxins which are responsible for host tissue destruction and immunosuppression. Major staphylococcal toxins are alpha toxin (a single subunit hemolysin) along with a group of bicomponent pore-forming toxins (BCPFT), namely Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), gamma hemolysins (HlgCB and AB), LukAB and LukED. In our previous report, an attenuated mutant of LukS-PV (PVL- S subunit) named as “LukS-mut9” elicited high immunogenic response as well as provided a significant protection in a mouse sepsis model. Recent discovery of PVL receptors shows that mice lack receptors for this toxin, thus the reported protection of mice with the PVL vaccine may relate to cross protective responses against other homologous toxins. This manuscript addresses this issue by demonstrating that polyclonal antibody generated by LukS-mut9 can neutralize other canonical and non-canonical leukotoxin pairs. In this report, we also demonstrated that several potent toxins can be created by non-canonical pairing of subunits. Out of 5 pairs of canonical and 8 pairs of non-canonical toxins tested, anti-LukS-mut9 polyclonal antibodies neutralized all except for LukAB. We also studied the potential hemolytic activities of canonical and noncanonical pairs among biocomponent toxins and discovered that a novel non-canonical pair consisting of HlgA and LukD is a highly toxic combination. This pair can lyse RBC from different species including human blood far better than alpha hemolysin. Moreover, to follow-up our last report, we explored the correlation between the levels of pre-existing antibodies to new sets of leukotoxins subunits and clinical outcomes in adult patients with S. aureus bacteremia. We found that there is an inversed correlation between the antibody titer to sepsis for leukotoxins LukS-mut9, LukF-PV, HlgC, LukE and LukAB, suggesting the risk of sepsis was significantly lower in the patients with higher antibody titer against those toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajan P. Adhikari
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Thomas Kort
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sergey Shulenin
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Nader Ganjbaksh
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mary-Claire Roghmann
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - M. Javad Aman
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
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19
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The bicomponent pore-forming leucocidins of Staphylococcus aureus. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2015; 78:199-230. [PMID: 24847020 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00055-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to produce water-soluble proteins with the capacity to oligomerize and form pores within cellular lipid bilayers is a trait conserved among nearly all forms of life, including humans, single-celled eukaryotes, and numerous bacterial species. In bacteria, some of the most notable pore-forming molecules are protein toxins that interact with mammalian cell membranes to promote lysis, deliver effectors, and modulate cellular homeostasis. Of the bacterial species capable of producing pore-forming toxic molecules, the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most notorious. S. aureus can produce seven different pore-forming protein toxins, all of which are believed to play a unique role in promoting the ability of the organism to cause disease in humans and other mammals. The most diverse of these pore-forming toxins, in terms of both functional activity and global representation within S. aureus clinical isolates, are the bicomponent leucocidins. From the first description of their activity on host immune cells over 100 years ago to the detailed investigations of their biochemical function today, the leucocidins remain at the forefront of S. aureus pathogenesis research initiatives. Study of their mode of action is of immediate interest in the realm of therapeutic agent design as well as for studies of bacterial pathogenesis. This review provides an updated perspective on our understanding of the S. aureus leucocidins and their function, specificity, and potential as therapeutic targets.
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20
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Chen J, Ram G, Penadés JR, Brown S, Novick RP. Pathogenicity island-directed transfer of unlinked chromosomal virulence genes. Mol Cell 2014; 57:138-49. [PMID: 25498143 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2014.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, the notorious pathogen Staphylococcus aureus has become progressively more contagious, more virulent, and more resistant to antibiotics. This implies a rather dynamic evolutionary capability, representing a remarkable level of genomic plasticity, most probably maintained by horizontal gene transfer. Here we report that the staphylococcal pathogenicity islands have a dual role in gene transfer: they not only mediate their own transfer, but they can independently direct the transfer of unlinked chromosomal segments containing virulence genes. While transfer of the island itself requires specific helper phages, transfer of unlinked chromosomal segments does not, so potentially any pac-type phage will serve. These results reveal that SaPIs can increase the horizontal exchange of accessory genes associated with disease and may shape pathogen genomes beyond the confines of their attachment sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chen
- Skirball Institute Program in Molecular Pathogenesis, Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Geeta Ram
- Skirball Institute Program in Molecular Pathogenesis, Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - José R Penadés
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Stuart Brown
- NYU Center for Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Richard P Novick
- Skirball Institute Program in Molecular Pathogenesis, Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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Adriaenssens EM, Edwards R, Nash JHE, Mahadevan P, Seto D, Ackermann HW, Lavigne R, Kropinski AM. Integration of genomic and proteomic analyses in the classification of the Siphoviridae family. Virology 2014; 477:144-154. [PMID: 25466308 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2014.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Using a variety of genomic (BLASTN, ClustalW) and proteomic (Phage Proteomic Tree, CoreGenes) tools we have tackled the taxonomic status of members of the largest bacteriophage family, the Siphoviridae. In all over 400 phages were examined and we were able to propose 39 new genera, comprising 216 phage species, and add 62 species to two previously defined genera (Phic3unalikevirus; L5likevirus) grouping, in total, 390 fully sequenced phage isolates. Many of the remainders are orphans which the Bacterial and Archaeal Viruses Subcommittee of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) chooses not to ascribe genus status at the time being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelien M Adriaenssens
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Genomics Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Rob Edwards
- Geology, Mathematics, and Computer Science, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - John H E Nash
- Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of Canada, 110 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 3W4
| | | | - Donald Seto
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, 10900 University Blvd, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - Hans-Wolfgang Ackermann
- Département de Microbiologie-infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada G1K 7P4
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, KasteelparkArenberg 21 - b2462, Heverlee 3001, Belgium.
| | - Andrew M Kropinski
- Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of Canada, 110 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 3W4; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2A1.
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22
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Sanchini A, Del Grosso M, Villa L, Ammendolia M, Superti F, Monaco M, Pantosti A. Typing of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-encoding phages carried by methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Italy. Clin Microbiol Infect 2014; 20:O840-6. [DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Revised: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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23
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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. J Clin Microbiol 2014; 53:67-72. [PMID: 25339405 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01722-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus 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 chromosome mec typing, 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.
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Merrill BD, Grose JH, Breakwell DP, Burnett SH. Characterization of Paenibacillus larvae bacteriophages and their genomic relationships to firmicute bacteriophages. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:745. [PMID: 25174730 PMCID: PMC4168068 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Paenibacillus larvae is a Firmicute bacterium that causes American Foulbrood, a lethal disease in honeybees and is a major source of global agricultural losses. Although P. larvae phages were isolated prior to 2013, no full genome sequences of P. larvae bacteriophages were published or analyzed. This report includes an in-depth analysis of the structure, genomes, and relatedness of P. larvae myoviruses Abouo, Davis, Emery, Jimmer1, Jimmer2, and siphovirus phiIBB_Pl23 to each other and to other known phages. Results P. larvae phages Abouo, Davies, Emery, Jimmer1, and Jimmer2 are myoviruses with ~50 kbp genomes. The six P. larvae phages form three distinct groups by dotplot analysis. An annotated linear genome map of these six phages displays important identifiable genes and demonstrates the relationship between phages. Sixty phage assembly or structural protein genes and 133 regulatory or other non-structural protein genes were identifiable among the six P. larvae phages. Jimmer1, Jimmer2, and Davies formed stable lysogens resistant to superinfection by genetically similar phages. The correlation between tape measure protein gene length and phage tail length allowed identification of co-isolated phages Emery and Abouo in electron micrographs. A Phamerator database was assembled with the P. larvae phage genomes and 107 genomes of Firmicute-infecting phages, including 71 Bacillus phages. Phamerator identified conserved domains in 1,501 of 6,181 phamilies (only 24.3%) encoded by genes in the database and revealed that P. larvae phage genomes shared at least one phamily with 72 of the 107 other phages. The phamily relationship of large terminase proteins was used to indicate putative DNA packaging strategies. Analyses from CoreGenes, Phamerator, and electron micrograph measurements indicated Jimmer1, Jimmer2, Abouo and Davies were related to phages phiC2, EJ-1, KC5a, and AQ113, which are small-genome myoviruses that infect Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium, respectively. Conclusions This paper represents the first comparison of phage genomes in the Paenibacillus genus and the first organization of P. larvae phages based on sequence and structure. This analysis provides an important contribution to the field of bacteriophage genomics by serving as a foundation on which to build an understanding of the natural predators of P. larvae. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-745) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sandra H Burnett
- Microbiology and Molecular Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
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25
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Gutiérrez D, Adriaenssens EM, Martínez B, Rodríguez A, Lavigne R, Kropinski AM, García P. Three proposed new bacteriophage genera of staphylococcal phages: "3alikevirus", "77likevirus" and "Phietalikevirus". Arch Virol 2014; 159:389-98. [PMID: 24022640 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-013-1833-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
To date, most members of the Siphoviridae family of bacteriophages remain unclassified, including the 46 staphylococcal phages for which the complete genome sequences have been deposited in public databases. Comparative nucleotide and protein sequence analysis, in addition to available data on phage morphology, allowed us to propose three new phage genera within the family Siphoviridae: "3alikevirus", "77likevirus" and "Phietalikevirus", which include related phages infecting Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. However, six phages infecting S. aureus, Staphylococcus pasteuri, Staphylococcus hominis and Staphylococcus capitis strains remain to be classified (orphan phages). Overall, the former phages share morphological features and genome organization. The three groups have conserved domains containing peptidoglycan hydrolytic activities clearly identified as part of tape measure proteins ("3alikevirus" and "77likevirus") or as individual virionassociated proteins ("Phietalikevirus"). In addition, bacteriophages belonging to the genus "3alikevirus" share closely related DNA-processing and packaging proteins, while bacteriophages included in the genus "Phietalikevirus" encode specific tail proteins for host interaction. These properties are considered distinctive for these genera. Orphan phages seem to have a more divergent organization, but they share some properties with members of these proposed genera.
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26
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Aman MJ, Adhikari RP. Staphylococcal bicomponent pore-forming toxins: targets for prophylaxis and immunotherapy. Toxins (Basel) 2014; 6:950-72. [PMID: 24599233 PMCID: PMC3968370 DOI: 10.3390/toxins6030950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 02/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococccus aureus represents one of the most challenging human pathogens as well as a common colonizer of human skin and mucosal surfaces. S. aureus causes a wide range of diseases from skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) to debilitating and life-threatening conditions such as osteomyelitis, endocarditis, and necrotizing pneumonia. The range of diseases reflects the remarkable diversity of the virulence factors produced by this pathogen, including surface antigens involved in the establishment of infection and a large number of toxins that mediate a vast array of cellular responses. The staphylococcal toxins are generally believed to have evolved to disarm the innate immune system, the first line of defense against this pathogen. This review focuses on recent advances on elucidating the biological functions of S. aureus bicomponent pore-forming toxins (BCPFTs) and their utility as targets for preventive and therapeutic intervention. These toxins are cytolytic to a variety of immune cells, primarily neutrophils, as well as cells with a critical barrier function. The lytic activity of BCPFTs towards immune cells implies a critical role in immune evasion, and a number of epidemiological studies and animal experiments relate these toxins to clinical disease, particularly SSTI and necrotizing pneumonia. Antibody-mediated neutralization of this lytic activity may provide a strategy for development of toxoid-based vaccines or immunotherapeutics for prevention or mitigation of clinical diseases. However, certain BCPFTs have been proposed to act as danger signals that may alert the immune system through an inflammatory response. The utility of a neutralizing vaccination strategy must be weighed against such immune-activating potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Javad Aman
- Integrated BioTherapeutics Inc., 21 Firstfield Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA.
| | - Rajan P Adhikari
- Integrated BioTherapeutics Inc., 21 Firstfield Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA.
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27
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Yoon H, Yun J, Lim JA, Roh E, Jung KS, Chang Y, Ryu S, Heu S. Characterization and genomic analysis of two Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophages isolated from poultry/livestock farms. J Gen Virol 2013; 94:2569-2576. [PMID: 23973965 PMCID: PMC3809110 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.053991-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important pathogens, causing various diseases in humans and animals. As methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has become increasingly prevalent, controlling this pathogen with standard antibiotic treatment has become challenging. Bacteriophages (phages) have attracted interest as alternative antibacterial agents to control MRSA. In this study, we isolated six S. aureus phages from soils of poultry/livestock farms. Based on the results of host range determination with 150 S. aureus strains and restriction enzyme treatment of phage DNA, two phages, designated SP5 and SP6, were selected for further characterization and genome sequencing. Both SP5 and SP6 were classified as members of the family Siphoviridae. The genome of SP5 comprises 43 305 bp and contains 63 ORFs, while the SP6 genome comprises 42 902 bp and contains 61 ORFs. Although they have different host spectra, the phage genomes exhibit high nucleotide similarity to each other. Adsorption assay results suggested that the host range determinants of the two phages are involved in both adsorption and infection. Comparative genomic analyses of the two phages provided evidence that the lysogenic/lytic control module and tail proteins may be important for host specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjin Yoon
- Department of Food Technology and Services, College of Health Industry, Eulji university, Seongnam 461-713, Korea
| | - Jiae Yun
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Korea
| | - Jeong-A Lim
- Microbial Safety Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-707, Korea
| | - Eunjung Roh
- Microbial Safety Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-707, Korea
| | - Kyu-Seok Jung
- Microbial Safety Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-707, Korea
| | - Yoonjee Chang
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Korea
| | - Sangryeol Ryu
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Korea
| | - Sunggi Heu
- Microbial Safety Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-707, Korea
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28
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Cremonesi P, Zottola T, Locatelli C, Pollera C, Castiglioni B, Scaccabarozzi L, Moroni P. Identification of virulence factors in 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer genotyped Staphylococcus aureus isolated from water buffaloes and small ruminants. J Dairy Sci 2013; 96:7666-74. [PMID: 24140323 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-6917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an important human and animal pathogen, and is regarded as an important cause of intramammary infection (IMI) in ruminants. Staphylococcus aureus genetic variability and virulence factors have been well studied in veterinary medicine, especially in cows as support for control and management of IMI. The aim of the present study was to genotype 71 Staph. aureus isolates from the bulk tank and foremilk of water buffaloes (n=40) and from udder tissue (n=7) and foremilk (n=24) from small ruminants. The method used was previously applied to bovine Staph. aureus and is based on the amplification of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region. The technique applied was able to identify different Staph. aureus genotypes isolated from dairy species other than the bovine species, and cluster the genotypes according to species and herds. Virulence gene distribution was consistent with genotype differentiation. The isolates were also characterized through determination of the presence of 19 virulence-associated genes by specific PCR. Enterotoxins A, C, D, G, I, J, and L were associated with Staph. aureus isolates from buffaloes, whereas enterotoxins C and L were linked to small ruminants. Genes coding for methicillin resistance, Panton-Valentine leukocidin, exfoliative toxins A and B, and enterotoxins B, E, and H were undetected. These findings indicate that RNA template-specific PCR is a valid technique for typing Staph. aureus from buffaloes and small ruminants and is a useful tool for understanding udder infection epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Cremonesi
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Einstein, 26900, Lodi Italy
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29
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Karauzum H, Adhikari RP, Sarwar J, Devi VS, Abaandou L, Haudenschild C, Mahmoudieh M, Boroun AR, Vu H, Nguyen T, Warfield KL, Shulenin S, Aman MJ. Structurally designed attenuated subunit vaccines for S. aureus LukS-PV and LukF-PV confer protection in a mouse bacteremia model. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65384. [PMID: 23762356 PMCID: PMC3676412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous efforts towards S. aureus vaccine development have largely focused on cell surface antigens to induce opsonophagocytic killing aimed at providing sterile immunity, a concept successfully applied to other Gram-positive pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, these approaches have largely failed, possibly in part due to the remarkable diversity of the staphylococcal virulence factors such as secreted immunosuppressive and tissue destructive toxins. S. aureus produces several pore-forming toxins including the single subunit alpha hemolysin as well as bicomponent leukotoxins such as Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), gamma hemolysins (Hlg), and LukED. Here we report the generation of highly attenuated mutants of PVL subunits LukS-PV and LukF-PV that were rationally designed, based on an octameric structural model of the toxin, to be deficient in oligomerization. The attenuated subunit vaccines were highly immunogenic and showed significant protection in a mouse model of S. aureus USA300 sepsis. Protection against sepsis was also demonstrated by passive transfer of rabbit immunoglobulin raised against LukS-PV. Antibodies to LukS-PV inhibited the homologous oligomerization of LukS-PV with LukF-PV as well heterologous oligomerization with HlgB. Importantly, immune sera from mice vaccinated with the LukS mutant not only inhibited the PMN lytic activity produced by the PVL-positive USA300 but also blocked PMN lysis induced by supernatants of PVL-negative strains suggesting a broad protective activity towards other bicomponent toxins. These findings strongly support the novel concept of an anti-virulence, toxin-based vaccine intended for prevention of clinical S. aureus invasive disease, rather than achieving sterile immunity. Such a multivalent vaccine may include attenuated leukotoxins, alpha hemolysin, and superantigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hatice Karauzum
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rajan P. Adhikari
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jawad Sarwar
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - V. Sathya Devi
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Laura Abaandou
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Mahta Mahmoudieh
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Atefeh R. Boroun
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hong Vu
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tam Nguyen
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kelly L. Warfield
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sergey Shulenin
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - M. Javad Aman
- Integrated Biotherapeutics Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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30
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Xia G, Wolz C. Phages of Staphylococcus aureus and their impact on host evolution. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 21:593-601. [PMID: 23660485 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Revised: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Most of the dissimilarity between Staphylococcus aureus strains is due to the presence of mobile genetic elements such as bacteriophages or pathogenicity islands. These elements provide the bacteria with additional genes that enable them to establish a new lifestyle that is often accompanied by a shift to increased pathogenicity or a jump to a new host. S. aureus phages may carry genes coding for diverse virulence factors such as Panton-Valentine leukocidin, staphylokinase, enterotoxins, chemotaxis-inhibitory proteins, or exfoliative toxins. Phages also mediate the transfer of pathogenicity islands in a highly coordinated manner and are the primary vehicle for the horizontal transfer of chromosomal and extra-chromosomal genes. Here, we summarise recent advances regarding phage classification, genome organisation and function of S. aureus phages with a particular emphasis on their role in the evolution of the bacterial host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqing Xia
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhornstrasse-6, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christiane Wolz
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhornstrasse-6, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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31
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Chua KYL, Howden BP, Jiang JH, Stinear T, Peleg AY. Population genetics and the evolution of virulence in Staphylococcus aureus. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 21:554-62. [PMID: 23628638 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Revised: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important human pathogens, causing life-threatening infection in the community and hospital setting. The population genetics of S. aureus and the evolution of virulence is the focus of this review. We describe the various techniques in determining S. aureus population structure and discuss the insights gained from whole genome sequencing of various S. aureus strains. The emergence of community-acquired, methicillin-resistant S. aureus provides a framework for the discussion on evolution of virulence, and the role of horizontal gene transfer in the development of virulence and antibiotic resistance is explored. The knowledge generated from population genetics has the potential to inform strategies to assist in the prevention or treatment of this highly successful human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Y L Chua
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; Austin Centre for Infection Research (ACIR), Infectious Diseases Department, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia; Microbiology Department, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Benjamin P Howden
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Austin Centre for Infection Research (ACIR), Infectious Diseases Department, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia; Microbiology Department, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Jhih-Hang Jiang
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Timothy Stinear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Anton Y Peleg
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3181, Australia; Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
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32
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Abstract
Due to their crucial role in pathogenesis and virulence, phages of Staphylococcus aureus have been extensively studied. Most of them encode and disseminate potent staphylococcal virulence factors. In addition, their movements contribute to the extraordinary versatility and adaptability of this prominent pathogen by improving genome plasticity. In addition to S. aureus, phages from coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are gaining increasing interest. Some of these species, such as S. epidermidis, cause nosocomial infections and are therefore problematic for public health. This review provides an overview of the staphylococcal phages family extended to CoNS phages. At the morphological level, all these phages characterized so far belong to the Caudovirales order and are mainly temperate Siphoviridae. At the molecular level, comparative genomics revealed an extensive mosaicism, with genes organized into functional modules that are frequently exchanged between phages. Evolutionary relationships within this family, as well as with other families, have been highlighted. All these aspects are of crucial importance for our understanding of evolution and emergence of pathogens among bacterial species such as Staphylococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Deghorain
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; (L.V.M.); (M.D.); Tel.: +32-2-650-97-76 (M.D.); +32-2-650-97-78 (L.V.M.); Fax: +32-2-650-97-70
| | - Laurence Van Melderen
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; (L.V.M.); (M.D.); Tel.: +32-2-650-97-76 (M.D.); +32-2-650-97-78 (L.V.M.); Fax: +32-2-650-97-70
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Prabhakara S, Khedkar S, Shambat SM, Srinivasan R, Basu A, Norrby-Teglund A, Seshasayee ASN, Arakere G. Genome sequencing unveils a novel sea enterotoxin-carrying PVL phage in Staphylococcus aureus ST772 from India. PLoS One 2013; 8:e60013. [PMID: 23544121 PMCID: PMC3609733 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2012] [Accepted: 02/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen, first recognized as a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. Community-associated S. aureus (CA-SA) pose a greater threat due to increase in severity of infection and disease among children and healthy adults. CA-SA strains in India are genetically diverse, among which is the sequence type (ST) 772, which has now spread to Australia, Europe and Japan. Towards understanding the genetic characteristics of ST772, we obtained draft genome sequences of five relevant clinical isolates and studied the properties of their PVL-carrying prophages, whose presence is a defining hallmark of CA-SA. We show that this is a novel prophage, which carries the structural genes of the hlb-carrying prophage and includes the sea enterotoxin. This architecture probably emerged early within the ST772 lineage, at least in India. The sea gene, unique to ST772 PVL, despite having promoter sequence characteristics typical of low expression, appears to be highly expressed during early phase of growth in laboratory conditions. We speculate that this might be a consequence of its novel sequence context. The crippled nature of the hlb-converting prophage in ST772 suggests that widespread mobility of the sea enterotoxin might be a selective force behind its 'transfer' to the PVL prophage. Wild type ST772 strains induced strong proliferative responses as well as high cytotoxic activity against neutrophils, likely mediated by superantigen SEA and the PVL toxin respectively. Both proliferation and cytotoxicity were markedly reduced in a cured ST772 strain indicating the impact of the phage on virulence. The presence of SEA alongside the genes for the immune system-modulating PVL toxin may contribute to the success and virulence of ST772.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushma Prabhakara
- Society for Innovation and Development, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Supriya Khedkar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, GKVK, Bengaluru, India
| | - Srikanth Mairpady Shambat
- Karolinska Institute, Center for Infectious Medicine F59, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Atanu Basu
- National Institute of Virology, Pune, India
| | - Anna Norrby-Teglund
- Karolinska Institute, Center for Infectious Medicine F59, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Gayathri Arakere
- Society for Innovation and Development, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
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Grumann D, Nübel U, Bröker BM. Staphylococcus aureus toxins--their functions and genetics. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 21:583-92. [PMID: 23541411 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2013] [Revised: 03/07/2013] [Accepted: 03/09/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The outcome of encounters between Staphylococcus (S.) aureus and its human host ranges from life-threatening infection through allergic reactions to symptom-free colonization. The pan-genome of this bacterial species encodes numerous toxins, known or strongly suspected to cause specific diseases or symptoms. Three toxin families are in the focus of this review, namely (i) pore-forming toxins, (ii) exfoliative toxins and (iii) superantigens. The majority of toxin-encoding genes are located on mobile genetic elements (MGEs), resulting in a pronounced heterogeneity in the endowment with toxin genes of individual S. aureus strains. Recent population genomic analysis have provided a framework for an improved understanding of the temporal and spatial scales of the motility of MGEs and their associated toxin genes. The distribution of toxin genes among clonal lineages within the species S. aureus is not random, and phylogenetic (sub-)lineages within clonal complexes feature characteristic toxin signatures. When studying pathogenesis, this lineage association, which is caused by the clonal nature of S. aureus makes it difficult to discriminate effects of specific toxins from contributions of the genetic background and/or other associated genetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothee Grumann
- Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Barbara M Bröker
- Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany.
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Characterization of a Novel Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-encoding staphylococcal phage and its naturally PVL-lacking variant. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 79:2828-32. [PMID: 23396328 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03852-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A new siphophage (LH1) was isolated from raw milk using a Staphylococcus aureus ST352 host. Its genome (46,048 bp, 57 open reading frames) includes the two genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a virulence factor usually harbored by S. aureus prophages. Nine structural proteins were identified, including a tail protein generated through a +1 frameshift. A phage lytic mutant was isolated, and its analysis revealed the deletion of genes coding for the PVL and an integrase. The deletion likely occurred through recombination between direct repeats.
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36
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Genetic variation among Panton-Valentine leukocidin-encoding bacteriophages in Staphylococcus aureus clonal complex 30 strains. J Clin Microbiol 2013; 51:914-9. [PMID: 23284024 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.03015-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clonal complex 30 (CC30), one of the major Staphylococcus aureus lineages, has caused extensive hospital-acquired and community-acquired infections worldwide. Recent comparative genomics studies have demonstrated that three CC30 clones-phage type 80/81, Southwest Pacific (SWP), and contemporary EMRSA-16 associated (Con) strains-shared a recent common ancestor more than 100 years ago. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a bacteriophage encoded toxin that has been epidemiologically linked with community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA), has frequently been identified in CC30 clones, although the pvl gene variation and distribution of PVL-encoding phages are poorly understood. We determined here the distribution of PVL phages, PVL gene sequences, and chromosomal phage insertion sites in 52 S. aureus CC30 PVL-harboring isolates, collected from four continents over a 75-year period. Our results indicate that PVL phages with icosahedral heads, including Φ108PVL and ΦPVL, were mainly associated with phage 80/81 strains, whereas phages with elongated heads were predominantly found in SWP (ΦSa2958 and ΦTCH60) and Con (ΦSa2USA) strains. Nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in the lukSF-PV gene, with six isolates harboring the R variant that has been previously associated with CA-MRSA strains. Interestingly, all six R variant strains belonged to the same Con CC30 clone and carried a ΦSa2USA-like phage. Similar chromosomal phage insertion sites were also identified in all 52 PVL-harboring CC30 strains. These analyses provide important insights into the microepidemiology of PVL-harboring CC30 strains, while the discovery of ΦSa2USA-associated R variant strains sheds further light on the evolution of PVL-positive CA-MRSA.
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Łobocka M, Hejnowicz MS, Dąbrowski K, Gozdek A, Kosakowski J, Witkowska M, Ulatowska MI, Weber-Dąbrowska B, Kwiatek M, Parasion S, Gawor J, Kosowska H, Głowacka A. Genomics of staphylococcal Twort-like phages--potential therapeutics of the post-antibiotic era. Adv Virus Res 2012; 83:143-216. [PMID: 22748811 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394438-2.00005-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Polyvalent bacteriophages of the genus Twort-like that infect clinically relevant Staphylococcus strains may be among the most promising phages with potential therapeutic applications. They are obligatorily lytic, infect the majority of Staphylococcus strains in clinical strain collections, propagate efficiently and do not transfer foreign DNA by transduction. Comparative genomic analysis of 11 S. aureus/S. epidermidis Twort-like phages, as presented in this chapter, emphasizes their strikingly high similarity and clear divergence from phage Twort of the same genus, which might have evolved in hosts of a different species group. Genetically, these phages form a relatively isolated group, which minimizes the risk of acquiring potentially harmful genes. The order of genes in core parts of their 127 to 140-kb genomes is conserved and resembles that found in related representatives of the Spounavirinae subfamily of myoviruses. Functions of certain conserved genes can be predicted based on their homology to prototypical genes of model spounavirus SPO1. Deletions in the genomes of certain phages mark genes that are dispensable for phage development. Nearly half of the genes of these phages have no known homologues. Unique genes are mostly located near termini of the virion DNA molecule and are expressed early in phage development as implied by analysis of their potential transcriptional signals. Thus, many of them are likely to play a role in host takeover. Single genes encode homologues of bacterial virulence-associated proteins. They were apparently acquired by a common ancestor of these phages by horizontal gene transfer but presumably evolved towards gaining functions that increase phage infectivity for bacteria or facilitate mature phage release. Major differences between the genomes of S. aureus/S. epidermidis Twort-like phages consist of single nucleotide polymorphisms and insertions/deletions of short stretches of nucleotides, single genes, or introns of group I. Although the number and location of introns may vary between particular phages, intron shuffling is unlikely to be a major factor responsible for specificity differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Łobocka
- Department of Microbial Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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Ceftobiprole efficacy in vitro against Panton-Valentine leukocidin production and in vivo against community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis in rabbits. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 56:6291-7. [PMID: 23027197 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00926-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) can cause osteomyelitis with severe sepsis and/or local complications in which a Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) role is suspected. In vitro sub-MIC antibiotic effects on growth and PVL production by 11 PVL(+) MRSA strains, including the major CA-MRSA clones (USA300, including the LAC strain; USA400; and USA1000), and 11 PVL(+) methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strains were tested in microplate culture. Time-kill analyses with ceftobiprole at its MIC were also run with LAC. Efficacies of ceftobiprole (40 mg/kg of body weight subcutaneously [s.c.] four times a day [q.i.d.]) or vancomycin (60 mg/kg intramuscularly [i.m.] twice a day [b.i.d.]) alone or combined with rifampin (10 mg/kg b.i.d.) against rabbit CA-MRSA osteomyelitis, induced by tibial injection of 3.4 × 10(7) CFU of LAC, were compared. Treatment, started 14 days postinoculation, lasted 14 days. In vitro, 6/11 strains cultured with sub-MICs of ceftobiprole produced 1.6- to 4.8-fold more PVL than did the controls, with no link to specific clones. Rifampin decreased PVL production by all tested strains. In time-kill analyses at the LAC MIC (0.75 mg/liter), PVL production rose transiently at 6 and 8 h and then declined 2-fold at 16 h, concomitant with a 2-log(10)-CFU-count decrease. In vivo, the mean log(10) CFU/g of bone for ceftobiprole (1.44 ± 0.40) was significantly lower than that for vancomycin (2.37 ± 1.22) (P = 0.034), with 7/10 versus 5/11 bones sterilized, respectively. Combination with rifampin enhanced ceftobiprole (1.16 ± 0.04 CFU/g of bone [P = 0.056], 11/11 sterile bones) and vancomycin (1.23 ± 0.06 CFU/g [P = 0.011], 11/11 sterile bones) efficacies. Ceftobiprole bactericidal activity and the rifampin anti-PVL effect could play a role in these findings, which should be of interest for treating CA-MRSA osteomyelitis.
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Characterization of novel phages isolated in coagulase-negative staphylococci reveals evolutionary relationships with Staphylococcus aureus phages. J Bacteriol 2012; 194:5829-39. [PMID: 22923589 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01085-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite increasing interest in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), little information is available about their bacteriophages. We isolated and sequenced three novel temperate Siphoviridae phages (StB12, StB27, and StB20) from the CoNS Staphylococcus hominis and S. capitis species. The genome sizes are around 40 kb, and open reading frames (ORFs) are arranged in functional modules encoding lysogeny, DNA metabolism, morphology, and cell lysis. Bioinformatics analysis allowed us to assign a potential function to half of the predicted proteins. Structural elements were further identified by proteomic analysis of phage particles, and DNA-packaging mechanisms were determined. Interestingly, the three phages show identical integration sites within their host genomes. In addition to this experimental characterization, we propose a novel classification based on the analysis of 85 phage and prophage genomes, including 15 originating from CoNS. Our analysis established 9 distinct clusters and revealed close relationships between S. aureus and CoNS phages. Genes involved in DNA metabolism and lysis and potentially in phage-host interaction appear to be widespread, while structural genes tend to be cluster specific. Our findings support the notion of a possible reciprocal exchange of genes between phages originating from S. aureus and CoNS, which may be of crucial importance for pathogenesis in staphylococci.
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Comparative whole-genome mapping to determine Staphylococcus aureus genome size, virulence motifs, and clonality. J Clin Microbiol 2012; 50:3526-33. [PMID: 22915603 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01168-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being a clonal pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus continues to acquire virulence and antibiotic-resistant genes located on mobile genetic elements such as genomic islands, prophages, pathogenicity islands, and the staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) by horizontal gene transfer from other staphylococci. The potential virulence of a S. aureus strain is often determined by comparing its pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) or multilocus sequence typing profiles to that of known epidemic or virulent clones and by PCR of the toxin genes. Whole-genome mapping (formerly optical mapping), which is a high-resolution ordered restriction mapping of a bacterial genome, is a relatively new genomic tool that allows comparative analysis across entire bacterial genomes to identify regions of genomic similarities and dissimilarities, including small and large insertions and deletions. We explored whether whole-genome maps (WGMs) of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) could be used to predict the presence of methicillin resistance, SCCmec type, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-producing genes on an S. aureus genome. We determined the WGMs of 47 diverse clinical isolates of S. aureus, including well-characterized reference MRSA strains, and annotated the signature restriction pattern in SCCmec types, arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME), and PVL-carrying prophage, PhiSa2 or PhiSa2-like regions on the genome. WGMs of these isolates accurately characterized them as MRSA or methicillin-sensitive S. aureus based on the presence or absence of the SCCmec motif, ACME and the unique signature pattern for the prophage insertion that harbored the PVL genes. Susceptibility to methicillin resistance and the presence of mecA, SCCmec types, and PVL genes were confirmed by PCR. A WGM clustering approach was further able to discriminate isolates within the same PFGE clonal group. These results showed that WGMs could be used not only to genotype S. aureus but also to identify genetic motifs in MRSA that may predict virulence.
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Li X, Sun J, Wu D, Wang L, Yang Y, Wang C, Liu L, Zhao C, Du P, Yu S, Shen X. Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene sequence variation and phage in methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus from children in mainland China. Microbiol Immunol 2012; 56:155-62. [PMID: 22469181 DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2011.00422.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
To determine the variation in the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene sequences and different PVL-encoding phages of Staphylococcus aureus strains collected from children in mainland China, fifty-eight strains with PVL collected from 2007 to 2009 were used. Their molecular characteristics were examined. Primers were designed to sequence the PVL genes. Six PVL-encoding phages (ϕPVL, ϕ108PVL, ϕSLT, ϕSa2MW, ϕSa2958, and ϕSa2USA) were identified by PCR. Eleven sequence types (ST) were detected with ST59 (39.7%, 23/58) the most frequent ST, followed by 910 (22.4%, 13/58), and 338 (12.1%, 7/58). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were identified at 11 locations in the PVL genes. SNP (nucleotide 1396, A→G) and SNP (nucleotide 1546, A→G) were observed in >10 sequences. Four additional SNP were non-synonymous. Both SNP (nucleotide 16, C→A) and SNP (nucleotide 62, C→T) were present in the same ST59 strain. SNP (nucleotide 527, A→G) was present in five strains belonging to ST30, 121, 1, and 93. SNP (nucleotide 1436, A→C) was present in one ST30 strain. Fifteen strains belonging to ST910, ST217, and ST30 carried a PVL phage that had an icosahedral head morphology. Nine ST59 strains carried ϕ108PVL. Three ST88 strains carried a PVL phage that had an elongated head morphology. Twenty-seven strains, including 60.9% (14/23) of ST59 and all ST338 strains, had no detectable phage. In conclusion, sequence variation in PVL genes and PVL-encoding phages was generally related to the lineage. ST59 strains may indeed carry novel PVL phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangmei Li
- Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100045, China
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Mohamed DH, Saberesheikh S, Kearns AM, Saunders NA. Putative link between Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage serotype and community association. Int J Med Microbiol 2012; 302:135-44. [PMID: 22673403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2012.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2011] [Revised: 02/02/2012] [Accepted: 02/09/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from humans can be broadly separated into 3 groups: healthcare-associated (HA), community-associated (CA), and livestock-associated (LA) MRSA. Initially based on epidemiological features, division into these classes is becoming increasingly problematic. The sequencing of S. aureus genomes has highlighted variations in their accessory components, which likely account for differences in pathogenicity and epidemicity. In particular, temperate bacteriophages have been regarded as key players in bacterial pathogenesis. Bacteriophage-associated Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes (luk-PV) are regarded as epidemiological markers of the CA-MRSA due to their high prevalence in CA strains. This paper describes the development and application of a partial composite S. aureus virulence-associated gene microarray. Epidemic, pandemic, and sporadic lineages of UK HA and CA S. aureus were compared. Phage structural genes linked with CA isolates were identified and in silico analysis revealed these to be correlated with phage serogroup. CA strains predominantly carried a PVL-associated phage either of the A or Fb serogroup, whilst HA strains predominantly carried serogroup Fa or B phages. We speculate that carriage of a serogroup A/Fb PVL-associated phage rather than the luk-PV genes specifically is correlated with CA status.
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Affiliation(s)
- D H Mohamed
- Microbiology Services Division, Health Protection Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT, UK.
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Vandenesch F, Lina G, Henry T. Staphylococcus aureus hemolysins, bi-component leukocidins, and cytolytic peptides: a redundant arsenal of membrane-damaging virulence factors? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2012; 2:12. [PMID: 22919604 PMCID: PMC3417661 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 233] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2011] [Accepted: 01/31/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
One key aspect of the virulence of Staphylococcus aureus lies in its ability to target the host cell membrane with a large number of membrane-damaging toxins and peptides. In this review, we describe the hemolysins, the bi-component leukocidins (which include the Panton Valentine leukocidin, LukAB/GH, and LukED), and the cytolytic peptides (phenol soluble modulins). While at first glance, all of these factors might appear redundant, it is now clear that some of these factors play specific roles in certain S. aureus life stages and diseases or target specific cell types or species. In this review, we present an update of the literature on toxin receptors and their cell type and species specificities. Furthermore, we review epidemiological studies and animal models illustrating the role of these membrane-damaging factors in various diseases. Finally, we emphasize the interplay of these factors with the host immune system and highlight all their non-lytic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Vandenesch
- Bacterial Pathogenesis and Innate Immunity Laboratory, INSERM U851 "Immunity, Infection and Vaccination," Lyon, France
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Prevalence and sequence variation of panton-valentine leukocidin in methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible staphylococcus aureus strains in the United States. J Clin Microbiol 2011; 50:86-90. [PMID: 22090402 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.05564-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), encoded by the lukSF-PV genes, is a putative virulence factor and marker for community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Here we report the prevalence of PVL among a representative sample of 1,055 S. aureus infection isolates from the United States and describe the sequence variation of the lukSF-PV genes. We performed multilocus sequence typing (MLST) on all isolates and sequenced fragments of the lukSF-PV genes from a sample of 86 isolates. We assigned isolates to a PVL R or H sequence type based on a polymorphism that results in an amino acid change from arginine (R) to histidine (H). Overall, we found that 36% of S. aureus isolates were positive for lukSF-PV. Among the 86 we typed, we identified 72 R variants and 14 H variants. Among the 47 methicillin-resistance S. aureus (MRSA) isolates, 43 harbored the R variant, and among the 39 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates, 29 harbored the R variant. Almost all (97%) of the R variants were found in MLST clonal complex 8 (CC8), while the H variant was broadly distributed among 6 CCs. Within CC8, all 38 MRSA (USA300) and all 28 MSSA isolates harbored the R variant. Of the 20 isolates from blood and the lower respiratory tract, 19 (95%) harbored the R variant. While the R variant had been linked primarily to USA300 MRSA, we found that all CC8 MSSA isolates also contained the R variant, suggesting that some strains of USA300 may have lost methicillin resistance as an adaptation in the community.
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Li Z, Stevens DL, Hamilton SM, Parimon T, Ma Y, Kearns AM, Ellis RW, Bryant AE. Fatal S. aureus hemorrhagic pneumonia: genetic analysis of a unique clinical isolate producing both PVL and TSST-1. PLoS One 2011; 6:e27246. [PMID: 22110621 PMCID: PMC3207839 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2011] [Accepted: 10/12/2011] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2008, an unusual strain of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA68111), producing both Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), was isolated from a fatal case of necrotizing pneumonia. Because PVL/TSST-1 co-production in S. aureus is rare, we characterized the molecular organization of these toxin genes in strain 68111. MSSA68111 carries the PVL genes within a novel temperate prophage we call ФPVLv68111 that is most similar, though not identical, to phage ФPVL--a phage type that is relatively rare worldwide. The TSST-1 gene (tst) in MSSA68111 is carried on a unique staphylococcal pathogenicity island (SaPI) we call SaPI68111. Features of SaPI68111 suggest it likely arose through multiple major recombination events with other known SaPIs. Both ФPVLv68111 and SaPI68111 are fully mobilizable and therefore transmissible to other strains. Taken together, these findings suggest that hypervirulent S. aureus have the potential to emerge worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Li
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boise, Idaho, United States of America.
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Antonelou M, Knowles J, Siddiqi S, Sharma P. Recurrent cutaneous abscesses caused by PVL-MRSA. BMJ Case Rep 2011; 2011:bcr.01.2011.3680. [PMID: 22693181 DOI: 10.1136/bcr.01.2011.3680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
A 41-year-old female presented with a superficial buttock abscess. In the preceding 6 months she had four other abscesses at different anatomical sites. Screening for diabetes and immunocompromise was negative. Review of microbiology revealed Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus harbouring Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes. PVL syndrome is an emerging disorder associated with recurrent necrotic skin lesions in the young, otherwise healthy population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilina Antonelou
- Department of General Surgery/Care of the Elderly/Intensive Care and Urology, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital, London, UK.
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Ma XX, Sun DD, Wang S, Wang ML, Li M, Shang H, Wang EH, Luo EJ. Nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among preclinical medical students: epidemiologic and molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant S. aureus clones. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2011; 70:22-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2010.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2010] [Revised: 12/03/2010] [Accepted: 12/04/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Beta-lactams interfering with PBP1 induce Panton-Valentine leukocidin expression by triggering sarA and rot global regulators of Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2011; 55:3261-71. [PMID: 21502633 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01401-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous articles reported that beta-lactam antibiotics increase the expression of Staphylococcus aureus Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) by activating its transcription. We investigated the mechanisms underlying the inductor effect of beta-lactams on PVL expression by determining targets and regulatory pathways possibly implicated in this process. We measured PVL production in the presence of oxacillin (nonselective), imipenem (penicillin-binding protein 1 [PBP1] selective), cefotaxime (PBP2 selective), cefaclore (PBP3 selective), and cefoxitin (PBP4 selective). In vitro, we observed increased PVL production consistent with luk-PV mRNA levels that were 20 to 25 times higher for community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) cultures treated with PBP1-binding oxacillin and imipenem than for cultures treated with other beta-lactams or no antibiotic at all. This effect was also observed in vivo, with increased PVL mRNA levels in lung tissues from CA-MRSA-infected mice treated with imipenem but not cefoxitin. To confirm the involvement of PBP1 inhibition in this pathway, PBP1 depletion by use of an inducible pbp1 antisense RNA showed a dose-dependent relationship between the level of pbp1 antisense RNA and the luk-PV mRNA level. Upon imipenem treatment of exponential-phase cultures, we observed an increased sarA mRNA level after 30 min of incubation followed by a decreased rot mRNA level after 1 to 4 h of incubation. Unlike the agr and saeRS positive regulators, which were nonessential for PVL induction by beta-lactams, the sarA (positive) and rot (negative) PVL regulators were necessary for PVL induction by imipenem. Our results suggest that antibiotics binding to PBP1 increase PVL expression by modulating sarA and rot, which are essential mediators of the inductor effect of beta-lactams on PVL expression.
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Ferrer MD, Quiles-Puchalt N, Harwich MD, Tormo-Más MÁ, Campoy S, Barbé J, Lasa I, Novick RP, Christie GE, Penadés JR. RinA controls phage-mediated packaging and transfer of virulence genes in Gram-positive bacteria. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39:5866-78. [PMID: 21450808 PMCID: PMC3152322 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage-mediated transfer of microbial genetic elements plays a crucial role in bacterial life style and evolution. In this study, we identify the RinA family of phage-encoded proteins as activators required for transcription of the late operon in a large group of temperate staphylococcal phages. RinA binds to a tightly regulated promoter region, situated upstream of the terS gene, that controls expression of the morphogenetic and lysis modules of the phage, activating their transcription. As expected, rinA deletion eliminated formation of functional phage particles and significantly decreased the transfer of phage and pathogenicity island encoded virulence factors. A genetic analysis of the late promoter region showed that a fragment of 272 bp contains both the promoter and the region necessary for activation by RinA. In addition, we demonstrated that RinA is the only phage-encoded protein required for the activation of this promoter region. This region was shown to be divergent among different phages. Consequently, phages with divergent promoter regions carried allelic variants of the RinA protein, which specifically recognize its own promoter sequence. Finally, most Gram-postive bacteria carry bacteriophages encoding RinA homologue proteins. Characterization of several of these proteins demonstrated that control by RinA of the phage-mediated packaging and transfer of virulence factor is a conserved mechanism regulating horizontal gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Desamparados Ferrer
- Departamento de Química, Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, 46113 Moncada, Valencia, Spain.
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Udo EE, Sarkhoo E. The dissemination of ST80-SCCmec-IV community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone in Kuwait hospitals. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2010; 9:31. [PMID: 21050425 PMCID: PMC2989929 DOI: 10.1186/1476-0711-9-31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2010] [Accepted: 11/04/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a global healthcare problem. The purpose of this study was to characterize CA-MRSA clones and their distribution in Kuwait hospitals. METHODS In total, 135 CA-MRSA isolates, carrying the SCCmec IV or V genetic elements, isolated in eight hospitals were characterized using antibiogram, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multilocus sequence typing, and carriage of genes for Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL), capsular polysaccharides types (cap) 5 and 8, accessory genes regulators (agr), Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (tst). RESULTS They were susceptible to vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid but resistant to kanamycin (62%), fusidic acid (42.2%), tetracycline (39.3%), erythromycin and clindamycin (21.5%), gentamicin (5.9%), streptomycin (6.7%), trimethoprim (5.9%), mupirocin (6.6%) and cadmium acetate (82.2%). They consisted of 10 pulsotypes with the majority belonging to PFGE type I (51.1%), type II (22.2%), type IV (13.3%) and type III (3.7%). They belonged to 10 sequence types (ST) comprising ST80 (51.1%), ST30 (22.2%), ST5 (14.1%), ST1 (4.45), ST6 (3.7%), ST88 (1.5%), ST834 (1.5%), ST8 (0.7%), ST46 (0.7%) and ST950 (0.7%). Genes for PVL, cap 8, cap 5 and agr III, agr I and agr II were detected in 61.5%, 77.3%, 20.7% and 62.2%, 17% and 8.1% of the isolates respectively. Nine (6.7%) isolates contained tst while 103 isolates were positive for SE genes with sei (63.0%), seg (41.5%) and sed (29.6%) as the common SE genes. CONCLUSIONS ST80-SCCmecIV was the most common CA-MRSA clone in Kuwait hospitals presenting new challenges for infection control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edet E Udo
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait
| | - Eiman Sarkhoo
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait
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