Type 1 capsule genes of Staphylococcus aureus are carried in a staphylococcal cassette chromosome genetic element.

ABSTRACT: The cap1 genes are required for the synthesis of type 1 capsular polysaccharide (CP1) in Staphylococcus aureus. We previously showed that the cap1 locus was associated with a discrete genetic element in S. aureus M. In this report, we defined the boundaries of the cap1 element by comparing its restriction pattern to that of a corresponding region from the CP1-negative strain Becker. The element was located in the SmaI-G chromosomal fragment of the standard mapping strain NCTC8325. The sequences of the entire cap1 element and the flanking regions were determined. We found that there were two additional cap1 genes not previously identified. The cap1 operon was located in a staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) element similar to the resistance island SCCmec recently described for methicil

SUBMITTER: Luong TT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC135137 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature