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Natural transformation allows transfer of SCCmec-mediated methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.

ABSTRACT: SCCmec is a large mobile genetic element that includes the mecA gene and confers resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). There is evidence that SCCmec disseminates among staphylococci, but the transfer mechanisms are unclear. Here, we show that two-component systems mediate the upregulation of natural competence genes in S. aureus under biofilm growth conditions, and this enhances the efficiency of natural transformation. We observe SCCmec transfer via natural transformation from MRSA, and from methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci, to methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. The process requires the SCCmec recombinase genes ccrAB, and the stability of the transferred SCCmec varies depending on SCCmec types and recipients. Our results suggest that natural transformation plays a role in the transfer of SCCmec and possibly other mobile genetic elements in S. aureus biofilms.

SUBMITTER: Maree M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9072672 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Natural transformation allows transfer of SCCmec-mediated methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.

Maree Mais M Thi Nguyen Le Thuy LT Ohniwa Ryosuke L RL Higashide Masato M Msadek Tarek T Morikawa Kazuya K

Nature communications 20220505 1

SCCmec is a large mobile genetic element that includes the mecA gene and confers resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). There is evidence that SCCmec disseminates among staphylococci, but the transfer mechanisms are unclear. Here, we show that two-component systems mediate the upregulation of natural competence genes in S. aureus under biofilm growth conditions, and this enhances the efficiency of natural transformation. We observe SCCmec transf ...[more]

PMID: 35513365

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Project description:Elasnin is a recently reported antibiofilm agent that is effective against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Remarkably, we observed that elasnin has a superior activity in eradicating daptomycin-resistant MRSA strain biofilm, with a lower minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) value of 0.625 μg/mL, compared to 2.5 μg/mL for the wild type. Confocal microscopy further confirmed the higher biofilm eradication on the daptomycin-resistant strain, displaying ∼53% decrease in cell density upon elasnin treatment, while the wild-type strain was only decreased by ∼15%. Quantitative proteomics revealed that the daptomycin-resistant strain has a lower expression of the membrane, cell wall, and extracellular proteins, and also proteins involved in the arginine biosynthesis, pathogenesis, and cell adhesion compared to the wild type, which may result in weaker biofilm development. This study highlights the potential clinical application of elasnin through its superior biofilm eradication activity against a daptomycin-resistant MRSA strain, and revealed the associated processes governing this superior activity through proteomics analysis. IMPORTANCE Due to the increased use of daptomycin for the treatment of MRSA infections, the emergence of daptomycin-resistant strains has become prevalent in recent years. In this study, we discovered that elasnin, a newly reported antibiofilm compound, has a superior activity in eradicating daptomycin-resistant MRSA strain biofilms compared to the wild type. Follow-up analysis revealed the reason behind this superior activity, which is the lower expression of key proteins that play a role in pathogenesis and cell adhesion in the daptomycin-resistant strain, leading to weaker biofilm development. This showcases the potential use of elasnin in clinical settings where daptomycin-resistant strains and biofilm formation are prevalent. Altogether, our study provides new insights into the mechanism of elasnin in MRSA biofilm cells and identified its superior biofilm eradicating activity in the daptomycin-resistant strain.

Dataset Information

Natural transformation allows transfer of SCCmec-mediated methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.

Publications

Natural transformation allows transfer of SCCmec-mediated methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.

Similar Datasets

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