The ACME and SCCmec Linkage of Virulence with Resistance in the Community Methicillin Resistant S. aureus USA300 Clone

ABSTRACT: The epidemic character of community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), especially the geographically widespread clone USA300, is poorly understood. USA300 isolates carry a type IV staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) element conferring -lactam antibiotic class resistance and a putative pathogenicity island, ACME (arginine catabolic mobile element). Physical linkage between SCCmec and ACME suggests that selection for antibiotic resistance and for pathogenicity may be interconnected. We constructed isogenic mutants containing deletions of SCCmec and ACME in a USA300 clinical isolate to determine the role of these elements in a rabbit model of bacteremia. We found that deletion of type IV SCCmec did not affect competitive fitness, whereas deletio

ORGANISM(S): Staphylococcus aureus

SUBMITTER: Christopher Graber 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-9308 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress