Population structure of a hybrid clonal group of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, ST239-MRSA-III.

ABSTRACT: The methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clonal group known as ST239-MRSA-III is notable for its hybrid origin and for causing sustained hospital epidemics worldwide since the late 1970s. We studied the population structure of this MRSA clonal group using a sample of 111 isolates that were collected over 34 years from 29 countries. Genetic variation was assessed using typing methods and novel ascertainment methods, resulting in approximately 15 kb of sequence from 32 loci for all isolates. A single most parsimonious tree, free of homoplasy, partitioned 28 haplotypes into geographically-associated clades, including prominent European, Asian, and South American clades. The rate of evolution was estimated to be approximately 100x faster than standard estimates for bacteria, and

SUBMITTER: Smyth DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2797301 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature