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Accessory gene regulator group polymorphisms in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an association with clinical significance.

ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: Virulent gene expression in Staphylococcus aureus is controlled by regulators such as the accessory gene regulator (agr). Strains can be divided into four major agr groups (agr I-IV) on the basis of agrD and agrC polymorphisms. The purpose of this study was to define the proportion of agr I, II, and III polymorphisms and to compare the clinical characteristics between group I and non-group I polymorphisms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains in a Korean tertiary care teaching hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 158 clinical isolates were evaluated by RFLPs (restriction fragment length polymorphisms). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 50.2 +/- 21.9 years old. There were 74 (49.3%), 66 (44.0%), 10 (6.7%), 7 (4.4%), and 1 (0.6%) strains in agr group I, II, III, I + II, and I + III polymorphisms, respectively. Only ear infections were a statistically significant clinical parameter according to univariate (p=0.001) and multivariate analysis (OR, 4.721 (1.273-17.508), p=0.020). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that agr group I is the most prevalent in Korea, and ear infections are correlated with the group I polymorphism, which is a different clinical trend from western countries. It can also be inferred that community-acquired MRSA correlates with agr group I.

SUBMITTER: Yoon HJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2628116 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Accessory gene regulator group polymorphisms in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an association with clinical significance.

Yoon Hee Jung HJ Choi Jun Yong JY Lee Kyungwon K Yong Dongeun D Kim June Myung JM Song Young Goo YG

Yonsei medical journal 20070401 2

<h4>Purpose</h4>Virulent gene expression in Staphylococcus aureus is controlled by regulators such as the accessory gene regulator (agr). Strains can be divided into four major agr groups (agr I-IV) on the basis of agrD and agrC polymorphisms. The purpose of this study was to define the proportion of agr I, II, and III polymorphisms and to compare the clinical characteristics between group I and non-group I polymorphisms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains in a Korean t ...[more]

PMID: 17461514

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Project description:Approximatively 75% of the genome of S. aureus (“core” genome) are highly conserved between strains, whereas the remaining 25% (“accessory” genome) are composed of variable regions that are mostly composed of mobile genetic elements (MGE), containing virulence and resistance genes. We have developed a composite DNA-microarray (StaphVar Array) which selectively targets 403 genes located on the accessory or core variable genome. Target genes encode antimicrobial resistance factors (35 %), virulence factors (28 %) and adhesins (31%). This microarray was validated with reference strains and used to characterize the genomic DNA of 13 community-acquired methicillin resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) strains representative of all the Multilocus Sequence Types (STs) described to date in Belgium. Analysis of gene content of 8 reference strains by the StaphVar Array matched 96 to 99% of the theoretical results. Analysis of CA-MRSA strains showed that 54.4 % of the genes tested were strain-dependent. Strains presented specific exotoxin, enterotoxin, cytolysin and adhesin gene profile by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) lineage. One exception to these “lineage-specific” gene profile was the variable presence of the Arginin Catabolic Mobile Element (ACME, characteristic of the USA300 clone) within ST8 strains. In conclusion, this novel StaphVar array enables characterization of more than 400 variable resistance and virulence determinants in S. aureus strains. CA-MRSA strains from Belgium displayed extensive diversity in virulence and resistance profile. The presence of the USA 300 clone in our country was confirmed. Although mainly located on MGE, association of virulence genes were highly conserved within strains of the same MLST lineage. CGH microarray was performed on 13 epidemiologically distinct clinical isolates of methicillin resistant S. aureus. S. aureus labeled genomic DNA were hybridized to StaphVar arrays containing 1326 60mer oligonucleotide probes (Eurogentec, Belgium).

Project description:Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is becoming refractory to existing antibiotic therapy owing to the inherent ability of S. aureus to develop rapid resistance and is considered a major threat to public health. We found that a natural isolate of Bacillus pumilus from the Columbia River Estuary produces a strong anti-MRSA compound, amicoumacin A. As amicoumacin A has been reported to exhibit anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ulcer activities, we sought to uncover its mechanism of action. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis of S. aureus COL in response to amicoumacin A showed alteration in the expression of genes involved in several cellular processes including cell envelope turnover, cross-membrane transport, virulence, metabolism, and general stress response. The most highly induced gene was lrgA, encoding an antiholin-like product, which has been shown to be induced in response to a collapse of membrane potential. In order to gain further insight into the mechanism of action of amicoumacin A, a whole genome comparison of wild-type COL and amicoumacin A-resistant mutants isolated by serial passage method was carried out. Single point mutations resulting in codon substitutions were uncovered in several distinct genes: ksgA, RNA dimethyltranferase; fusA, elongation factor G; dnaG, primase, ; lacD, tagatose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, ; and SACOL0611, encoding a putative glycosyl transferase gene. Based on these results, a candidate approach was undertaken to recreate the same amino acid substitution individually in FusA and KsgA, each of which resulted in two-fold resistance towards amicoumacin A. The fusA gene is known as the site for fusidic acid- resistant mutations; however the codon substitutions in EF-G that cause amicoumacin A resistance and fusidic acid resistance occur in separate domains and do not bring about cross resistance. Taken together, these results suggest that amicoumacin A might cause perturbation of the cell membrane and lead to energy dissipation. Decreased rates of cellular metabolism including protein synthesis and DNA replication in resistant strains might allow cells to compensate for membrane dysfunction and thus increase cell survivability.

Dataset Information

Accessory gene regulator group polymorphisms in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an association with clinical significance.

Publications

Accessory gene regulator group polymorphisms in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an association with clinical significance.

Similar Datasets

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