The distribution of plasmids that carry virulence and resistance genes in Staphylococcus aureus is lineage associated.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Staphylococcus aureus is major human and animal pathogen. Plasmids often carry resistance genes and virulence genes that can disseminate through S. aureus populations by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mechanisms. Sequences of S. aureus plasmids in the public domain and data from multi-strain microarrays were analysed to investigate (i) the distribution of resistance genes and virulence genes on S. aureus plasmids, and (ii) the distribution of plasmids between S. aureus lineages.

Results

A total of 21 plasmid rep gene families, of which 13 were novel to this study, were characterised using a previously proposed classification system. 243 sequenced plasmids were assigned to 39 plasmid groups that each possessed a unique combination of rep genes. We show some resista

SUBMITTER: McCarthy AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3406946 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature