Extra-Chromosomal DNA Sequencing Reveals Episomal Prophages Capable of Impacting Virulence Factor Expression in Staphylococcus aureus.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen with well-characterized bacteriophage contributions to its virulence potential. Recently, we identified plasmidial and episomal prophages in S. aureus strains using an extra-chromosomal DNA (exDNA) isolation and sequencing approach, uncovering the plasmidial phage ϕBU01, which was found to encode important virulence determinants. Here, we expanded our extra-chromosomal sequencing of S. aureus, selecting 15 diverse clinical isolates with known chromosomal sequences for exDNA isolation and next-generation sequencing. We uncovered the presence of additional episomal prophages in 5 of 15 samples, but did not identify any plasmidial prophages. exDNA isolation was found to enrich for circular prophage elements, and qPCR charact

SUBMITTER: Deutsch DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6036120 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature