Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Plasmids Associated With Strains Isolated From Various Retail Meats.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is considered one of the most important foodborne bacterial pathogens causing food poisoning and related illnesses. S. aureus strains harbor plasmids encoding genes for virulence and antimicrobial resistance, but few studies have investigated S. aureus plasmids, especially megaplasmids, in isolates from retail meats. Furthermore, knowledge about the distribution of genes encoding replication (rep) initiation proteins in food isolates is lacking. In this study, the prevalence of plasmids in S. aureus strains isolated from retail meats purchased in Oklahoma was investigated; furthermore, we evaluated associations between rep families, selected virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes, and food source origin. Two hundred and twenty-two S. aureus isolates from chicken

SUBMITTER: Neyaz L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7042431 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature