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Genomic Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in Wildlife.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic multi-host pathogen that threatens both human and animal health. Animals can act as a reservoir of S. aureus for humans, but very little is known about wild animals' epidemiological role. Therefore, in this study, we performed a genomic characterization of S. aureus isolates from wildlife, hunters, and their auxiliary hunting animals of Eastern Spain. Of 20 different species, 242 wild animals were examined, of which 28.1% were S. aureus carriers. The common genet, the Iberian ibex, and the European hedgehog were the species with the highest S. aureus carriage. We identified 30 different sequence types (STs), including lineages associated with wild animals such as ST49 and ST581, multispecies lineages such as ST130, ST398, and ST425, and lineages commonly isolated from humans, including ST1 and ST5. The hunters and the single positive ferret shared ST5, ST398, or ST425 with wild animals. In wildlife isolates, the highest resistance levels were found for penicillin (32.8%). For virulence factors, 26.2% of them carried superantigens, while 14.8% harbored the immune evasion cluster (IEC), which indicates probable human origin. Our findings suggest that wild animals are a reservoir of clinically relevant genes and lineages that could have the potential to be transmitted to humans. These data support the notion that wildlife surveillance is necessary to better understand the epidemiology of S. aureus as a pathogen that circulates among humans, animals, and the environment.

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Seijas C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10044652 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Genomic Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in Wildlife.

Martínez-Seijas Carmen C Mascarós Patricia P Lizana Víctor V Martí-Marco Alba A Arnau-Bonachera Alberto A Chillida-Martínez Eva E Cardells Jesús J Selva Laura L Viana David D Corpa Juan M JM

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI 20230315 6

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic multi-host pathogen that threatens both human and animal health. Animals can act as a reservoir of S. aureus for humans, but very little is known about wild animals' epidemiological role. Therefore, in this study, we performed a genomic characterization of S. aureus isolates from wildlife, hunters, and their auxiliary hunting animals of Eastern Spain. Of 20 different species, 242 wild animals were examined, of which 28.1% were S. ...[more]

PMID: 36978605

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Project description:BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus or MRSA (Methicillin Resistant S. aureus), is an acquired pathogen and the primary cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. In S. aureus, teichoic acid is an essential component of the cell wall, and its biosynthesis is not yet well characterized. Studies in Bacillus subtilis have discovered two different pathways of teichoic acid biosynthesis, in two strains W23 and 168 respectively, namely teichoic acid ribitol (tar) and teichoic acid glycerol (tag). The genes involved in these two pathways are also characterized, tarA, tarB, tarD, tarI, tarJ, tarK, tarL for the tar pathway, and tagA, tagB, tagD, tagE, tagF for the tag pathway. With the genome sequences of several MRSA strains: Mu50, MW2, N315, MRSA252, COL as well as methicillin susceptible strain MSSA476 available, a comparative genomic analysis was performed to characterize teichoic acid biosynthesis in these S. aureus strains.ResultsWe identified all S. aureus tar and tag gene orthologs in the selected S. aureus strains which would contribute to teichoic acids sythesis. Based on our identification of genes orthologous to tarI, tarJ, tarL, which are specific to tar pathway in B. subtilis W23, we also concluded that tar is the major teichoic acid biogenesis pathway in S. aureus. Further analyses indicated that the S. aureus tar genes, different from the divergon organization in B. subtilis, are organized into several clusters in cis. Most interesting, compared with genes in B. subtilis tar pathway, the S. aureus tar specific genes (tarI,J,L) are duplicated in all six S. aureus genomes.ConclusionIn the S. aureus strains we analyzed, tar (teichoic acid ribitol) is the main teichoic acid biogenesis pathway. The tar genes are organized into several genomic groups in cis and the genes specific to tar (relative to tag): tarI, tarJ, tarL are duplicated. The genomic organization of the S. aureus tar pathway suggests their regulations are different when compared to B. subtilis tar or tag pathway, which are grouped in two operons in a divergon structure.

Project description:BackgroundThe dissemination of multi-drug-resistant bacteria, particularly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), necessitates exploring new alternatives for their control. Bacteriophages are promising antibiotic alternatives with unique features. Here, we have performed a comprehensive characterization of a newly isolated bacteriophage (PSK) and compared its therapeutic potential with vancomycin in vivo.MethodsSewage samples were processed and enriched with the MRSA S. aureus SK1 strain in a search for isolation of a lytic bacteriophage. The isolated bacteriophage was assessed in vitro in terms of thermal and pH stability and kinetic parameters using absorption and one step growth curve assays. Moreover, its potential antibacterial activity was evaluated against S. aureus SK1 lone and in combination of standard of care antibiotics used for treatment of wound infections. We further analyzed its genome to exclude the presence of any potential toxin or antibiotic resistance genes. Finally, its antibacterial potential and capability to alleviate wound infection were assessed using a murine wound-infection model.ResultsThe lytic bacteriophage (PSK) was isolated as a new species of the genus Rosenblumvirus with a genome size of 17,571 bp that is free from potential resistance or virulence genes. PSK displays infectivity against 4/10 S. aureus strains including two vancomycin-resistant strains. Moreover, it demonstrates favorable infection kinetics of fast adsorption with latent period and burst size of 20 min and 123 PFU/infected cell, respectively. Stability analysis revealed thermal stability up to 60 °C with wide pH range stability (4-11). In vitro, PSK kills S. aureus SK1 with multiplicity of infection (MOI) as low as 10- 4 with an overall mutation frequency of 2.47 × 10- 6 CFU/mL that is further improved when combined with 0.25× MIC of oxacillin, fusidic acid or vancomycin. In vivo, a single dose of PSK in murine wound infection model exhibited a comparable performance to four doses of vancomycin, when treatment started 2 h post-infection. However, when applied 2 days post-infection, PSK demonstrates superior antibacterial activity (up to 4.58 log unit count reduction) and enhances wound closure and tissue healing.ConclusionThese findings represent PSK as a potential vancomycin alternative effective in treating S. aureus- induced wound infections.

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Genomic Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in Wildlife.

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Genomic Characterization of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> in Wildlife.

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