8 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
- ItemCharacterisation of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Alexandria, Egypt(Basel : MDPI, 2023) Monecke, Stefan; Bedewy, Amira K.; Müller, Elke; Braun, Sascha D.; Diezel, Celia; Elsheredy, Amel; Kader, Ola; Reinicke, Martin; Ghazal, Abeer; Rezk, Shahinda; Ehricht, RalfThe present study aims to characterise clinical MRSA isolates from a tertiary care centre in Egypt’s second-largest city, Alexandria. Thirty isolates collected in 2020 were genotypically characterised by microarray to detect their resistance and virulence genes and assign them to clonal complexes (CC) and strains. Isolates belonged to 11 different CCs and 14 different strains. CC15-MRSA-[V+fus] (n = 6), CC1-MRSA-[V+fus+tir+ccrA/B-1] (PVL+) (n = 5) as well as CC1-MRSA-[V+fus+tir+ccrA/B-1] and CC1153-MRSA-[V+fus] (PVL+) (both with n = 3) were the most common strains. Most isolates (83%) harboured variant or composite SCCmec V or VI elements that included the fusidic acid resistance gene fusC. The SCCmec [V+fus+tir+ccrA/B-1] element of one of the CC1 isolates was sequenced, revealing a presence not only of fusC but also of blaZ, aacA-aphD and other resistance genes. PVL genes were also common (40%). The hospital-acquired MRSA CC239-III strain was only found twice. A comparison to data from a study on strains collected in 2015 (Montelongo et al., 2022) showed an increase in fusC and PVL carriage and a decreasing prevalence of the CC239 strain. These observations indicate a diffusion of community-acquired strains into hospital settings. The beta-lactam use in hospitals and the widespread fusidic acid consumption in the community might pose a selective pressure that favours MRSA strains with composite SCCmec elements comprising mecA and fusC. This is an unsettling trend, but more MRSA typing data from Egypt are required.
- ItemLong-Term Sinonasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and Anti-Staphylococcal Humoral Immune Response in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis(Basel : MDPI, 2021) Thunberg, Ulrica; Hugosson, Svante; Ehricht, Ralf; Monecke, Stefan; Müller, Elke; Cao, Yang; Stegger, Marc; Söderquist, BoWe investigated Staphylococcus aureus diversity, genetic factors, and humoral immune responses against antigens via genome analysis of S. aureus isolates from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients in a long-term follow-up. Of the 42 patients who provided S. aureus isolates and serum for a previous study, 34 could be included for follow-up after a decade. Clinical examinations were performed and bacterial samples were collected from the maxillary sinus and nares. S. aureus isolates were characterized by whole-genome sequencing, and specific anti-staphylococcal IgG in serum was determined using protein arrays. S. aureus was detected in the nares and/or maxillary sinus at both initial inclusion and follow-up in 15 of the 34 respondents (44%). Three of these (20%) had S. aureus isolates from the same genetic lineage as at inclusion. A low number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified when comparing isolates from nares and maxillary sinus collected at the same time point. The overall change of antibody responses to staphylococcal antigens over time showed great variability, and no correlation was found between the presence of genes encoding antigens and the corresponding anti-staphylococcal IgG in serum; thus our findings did not support a role, in CRS, of the specific S. aureus antigens investigated.
- ItemAn epidemic CC1-MRSA-IV clone yields false-negative test results in molecular MRSA identification assays: a note of caution, Austria, Germany, Ireland, 2020(Stockholm : European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2020) Monecke, Stefan; König, Elisabeth; Earls, Megan R.; Leitner, Eva; Müller, Elke; Wagner, Gabriel E.; Poitz, David M.; Jatzwauk, Lutz; Vremerǎ, Teodora; Dorneanu, Olivia S.; Simbeck, Alexandra; Ambrosch, Andreas; Zollner-Schwetz, Ines; Krause, Robert; Ruppitsch, Werner; Schneider-Brachert, Wulf; Coleman, David C.; Steinmetz, Ivo; Ehricht, RalfWe investigated why a clinical meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolate yielded false-negative results with some commercial PCR tests for MRSA detection. We found that an epidemic European CC1-MRSA-IV clone generally exhibits this behaviour. The failure of the assays was attributable to a large insertion in the orfX/SCCmec integration site. To ensure the reliability of molecular MRSA tests, it is vital to monitor emergence of new SCCmec types and junction sites.
- ItemSequence Analysis of Novel Staphylococcus aureus Lineages from Wild and Captive Macaques(Basel : Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI), 2022) Monecke, Stefan; Roberts, Marilyn C.; Braun, Sascha D.; Diezel, Celia; Müller, Elke; Reinicke, Martin; Linde, Jörg; Joshi, Prabhu Raj; Paudel, Saroj; Acharya, Mahesh; Chalise, Mukesh K.; Feßler, Andrea T.; Hotzel, Helmut; Khanal, Laxman; Koju, Narayan P.; Schwarz, Stefan; Kyes, Randall C.; Ehricht, RalfStaphylococcus aureus is a widespread and common opportunistic bacterium that can colonise or infect humans as well as a wide range of animals. There are a few studies of both methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolated from monkeys, apes, and lemurs, indicating a presence of a number of poorly or unknown lineages of the pathogen. In order to obtain insight into staphylococcal diversity, we sequenced strains from wild and captive individuals of three macaque species (Macaca mulatta, M. assamensis, and M. sylvanus) using Nanopore and Illumina technologies. These strains were previously identified by microarray as poorly or unknown strains. Isolates of novel lineages ST4168, ST7687, ST7688, ST7689, ST7690, ST7691, ST7692, ST7693, ST7694, ST7695, ST7745, ST7746, ST7747, ST7748, ST7749, ST7750, ST7751, ST7752, ST7753, and ST7754 were sequenced and characterised for the first time. In addition, isolates belonging to ST2990, a lineage also observed in humans, and ST3268, a MRSA strain already known from macaques, were also included into the study. Mobile genetic elements, genomic islands, and carriage of prophages were analysed. There was no evidence for novel host-specific virulence factors. However, a conspicuously high rate of carriage of a pathogenicity island harbouring edinB and etD2/etE as well as a higher number of repeat units within the gene sasG (encoding an adhesion factor) than in human isolates were observed. None of the strains harboured the genes encoding Panton–Valentine leukocidin. In conclusion, wildlife including macaques may harbour an unappreciated diversity of S. aureus lineages that may be of clinical relevance for humans, livestock, or for wildlife conservation, given the declining state of many wildlife populations.
- ItemClonal Complexes Distribution of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Clinical Samples from the Caribbean Islands(Basel : MDPI, 2023) Monecke, Stefan; Akpaka, Patrick Eberechi; Smith, Margaret R.; Unakal, Chandrashekhar G.; Thoms Rodriguez, Camille-Ann; Ashraph, Khalil; Müller, Elke; Braun, Sascha D.; Diezel, Celia; Reinicke, Martin; Ehricht, RalfThe aim of this study was to comprehensively characterise S. aureus from the Caribbean Islands of Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. A total of 101 S. aureus/argenteus isolates were collected in 2020, mainly from patients with skin and soft tissue infections. They were characterised by DNA microarray allowing the detection of ca. 170 target genes and assignment to clonal complexes (CC)s and strains. In addition, the in vitro production of Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL) was examined by an experimental lateral flow assay. Two isolates were identified as S. argenteus, CC2596. The remaining S. aureus isolates were assigned to 21 CCs. The PVL rate among methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates was high (38/101), and 37 of the 38 genotypically positive isolates also yielded positive lateral flow results. The isolate that did not produce PVL was genome-sequenced, and it was shown to have a frameshift mutation in agrC. The high rate of PVL genes can be attributed to the presence of a known local CC8–MSSA clone in Trinidad and Tobago (n = 12) and to CC152–MSSA (n = 15). In contrast to earlier surveys, the USA300 clone was not found, although one MSSA isolate carried the ACME element, probably being a mecA-deficient derivative of this strain. Ten isolates, all from Trinidad and Tobago, were identified as MRSA. The pandemic ST239–MRSA–III strain was still common (n = 7), but five isolates showed a composite SCCmec element not observed elsewhere. Three isolates were sequenced. That showed a group of genes (among others, speG, crzC, and ccrA/B-4) to be linked to its SCC element, as previously found in some CC5– and CC8–MRSA, as well as in S. epidermidis. The other three MRSA belonged to CC22, CC72, and CC88, indicating epidemiological connections to Africa and the Middle East.
- ItemStaphylococcus aureus and methicillin resistant S. Aureus in nepalese primates: Resistance to antimicrobials, virulence, and genetic lineages(Basel : MDPI AG, 2020) Roberts, Marilyn C.; Joshi, Prabhu Raj; Monecke, Stefan; Ehricht, Ralf; Müller, Elke; Gawlik, Darius; Diezel, Celia; Braun, Sascha D.; Paudel, Saroj; Acharya, Mahesh; Khanal, Laxman; Koju, Narayan P.; Chalise, Mukesh; Kyes, Randall C.Staphylococcus aureus is a ubiquitous pathogen and colonizer in humans and animals. There are few studies on the molecular epidemiology of S. aureus in wild monkeys and apes. S. aureus carriage in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and Assam macaques (Macaca assamensis) is a species that has not previously been sampled and lives in remote environments with limited human contact. Forty Staphylococcus aureus isolates including 33 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and seven methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were characterized. Thirty-four isolates were from rhesus macaques and six isolates (five MSSA, one MRSA) were from Assam macaques. Isolates were characterized using StaphyType DNA microarrays. Five of the MRSA including one from Assam macaque were CC22 MRSA-IV (PVL+/tst+), which is a strain previously identified in Nepalese rhesus. One MRSA each were CC6 MRSA-IV and CC772 MRSA-V (PVL+). One MSSA each belonged to CC15, CC96, and CC2990. Six MRSA isolates carried the blaZ, while ten known CC isolates (seven MRSA, three MSSA) carried a variety of genes including aacA-aphD, aphA3, erm(C), mph(C), dfrA, msrA, and/or sat genes. The other 30 MSSA isolates belonged to 17 novel clonal complexes, carried no antibiotic resistance genes, lacked Panton–Valentine Leukocidin (PVL), and most examined exotoxin genes. Four clonal complexes carried egc enterotoxin genes, and four harbored edinB, which is an exfoliative toxin homologue. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- ItemMolecular investigations on a chimeric strain of Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 80(San Francisco, California, US : PLOS, 2020) Gawlik, Darius; Ruppelt-Lorz, Antje; Müller, Elke; Reißig, Annett; Hotzel, Helmut; Braun, Sascha D.; Söderquist, Bo; Ziegler-Cordts, Albrecht; Stein, Claudia; Pletz, Mathias W.; Ehricht, Ralf; Monecke, StefanA PVL-positive, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from pus from cervical lymphadenitis of a patient of East-African origin. Microarray hybridisation assigned the isolate to clonal complex (CC) 80 but revealed unusual features, including the presence of the ORF-CM14 enterotoxin homologue and of an ACME-III element as well as the absence of etD and edinB. The isolate was subjected to both, Illumina and Nanopore sequencing allowing characterisation of deviating regions within the strain´s genome. Atypical features of this strain were attributable to the presence of two genomic regions that originated from other S. aureus lineages and that comprised, respectively, 3% and 1.4% of the genome. One deviating region extended from walJ to sirB. It comprised ORF-CM14 and the ACME-III element. A homologous but larger fragment was also found in an atypical S. aureus CC1/ST567 strain whose lineage might have served as donor of this genomic region. This region itself is a chimera comprising fragments from CC1 as well as fragments of unknown origin. The other deviating region comprised the region from htsB to ecfA2, i.e., another 3% of the genome. It was very similar to CC1 sequences. Either this suggests an incorporation of CC1 DNA into the study strain, or alternatively a recombination event affecting “canonical” CC80. Thus, the study strain bears witness of several recombination events affecting supposedly core genomic genes. Although the exact mechanism is not yet clear, such chimerism seems to be an additional pathway in the evolution of S. aureus. This could facilitate also a transmission of virulence and resistance factors and therefore offer an additional evolutionary advantage.
- ItemPhylodynamic signatures in the emergence of community-associated MRSA(Washington, DC : National Acad. of Sciences, 2022) Steinig, Eike; Aglua, Izzard; Duchene, Sebastian; Meehan, Michael T.; Yoannes, Mition; Firth, Cadhla; Jaworski, Jan; Drekore, Jimmy; Urakoko, Bohu; Poka, Harry; Wurr, Clive; Ebos, Eri; Nangen, David; Müller, Elke; Mulvey, Peter; Jackson, Charlene; Blomfeldt, Anita; Aamot, Hege Vangstein; Laman, Moses; Manning, Laurens; Earls, Megan; Coleman, David C.; Greenhill, Andrew; Ford, Rebecca; Stegger, Marc; Syed, Muhammad Ali; Jamil, Bushra; Monecke, Stefan; Ehricht, Ralf; Smith, Simon; Pomat, William; Horwood, Paul; Tong, Steven Y. C.; McBryde, EmmaCommunity-associated, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) lineages have emerged in many geographically distinct regions around the world during the past 30 y. Here, we apply consistent phylodynamic methods across multiple community-associated MRSA lineages to describe and contrast their patterns of emergence and dissemination. We generated whole-genome sequencing data for the Australian sequence type (ST) ST93-MRSA-IV from remote communities in Far North Queensland and Papua New Guinea, and the Bengal Bay ST772-MRSA-V clone from metropolitan communities in Pakistan. Increases in the effective reproduction number (Re) and sustained transmission (Re > 1) coincided with spread of progenitor methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) in remote northern Australian populations, dissemination of the ST93-MRSA-IV genotype into population centers on the Australian East Coast, and subsequent importation into the highlands of Papua New Guinea and Far North Queensland. Applying the same phylodynamic methods to existing lineage datasets, we identified common signatures of epidemic growth in the emergence and epidemiological trajectory of community-associated S. aureus lineages from America, Asia, Australasia, and Europe. Surges in Re were observed at the divergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, coinciding with their establishment in regional population centers. Epidemic growth was also observed among drug-resistant MSSA clades in Africa and northern Australia. Our data suggest that the emergence of community-associated MRSA in the late 20th century was driven by a combination of antibiotic-resistant genotypes and host epidemiology, leading to abrupt changes in lineage-wide transmission dynamics and sustained transmission in regional population centers.