Novel type of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec identified in community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains.

ABSTRACT: We identified a new type of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) from two community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. The novel element, designated type IV SCCmec, had a unique combination of the class B mec gene complex and the type 2 ccr gene complex and was much smaller in size (21 to 24 kb) than previously identified SCCmec elements of hospital-acquired MRSA. Consistent with the strains' susceptibilities to various non-beta-lactam antibiotics, the type IV SCCmec was devoid of any antibiotic resistance genes other than the mecA gene.

SUBMITTER: Ma XX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC127097 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature