In vivo competition and horizontal gene transfer among distinct Staphylococcus aureus lineages as major drivers for adaptational changes during long-term persistence in humans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The airways of the majority of adolescent cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are persistently colonized or infected by Staphylococcus aureus. Using whole genome sequencing, we studied the evolutionary traits within a S. aureus population in the airways of a CF patient hypothesizing that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and inter-bacterial interaction play a major role in adaptation during long-term persistence.

Results

Whole genome sequencing of 21 S. aureus isolates spanning 13 years resulted in seven lineages defined by the spa types t012, t021, t331, t338, t364, t056, and t2351. Of these, the successfully persisting lineages t012 and t021 were closely related suggesting the evolution of t021 from t012, which was further corroborated by a nearly identical, syntenic set

SUBMITTER: Langhanki L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6198438 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature