Abstract
IntroductionHorizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important driver for resistance- and virulence factor accumulation in pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus.MethodsHere, we have investigated the downstream region of the bacterial chromosomal attachment site (attB) for the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) element of a commensal mecC-positive Staphylococcus stepanovicii strain (IMT28705; ODD4) with respect to genetic composition and indications of HGT. S. stepanovicii IMT28705 was isolated from a fecal sample of a trapped wild bank vole (Myodes glareolus) during a screening study (National Network on “Rodent-Borne Pathogens”) in Germany. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of IMT28705 together with the mecC-negative type strain CM7717 was conducted in order to comparatively investigate the genomic region downstream of attB (GenBank accession no. KR732654 and KR732653).ResultsThe bank vole isolate (IMT28705) harbors a mecC gene which shares 99.2% nucleotide (and 98.5% amino acid) sequence identity with mecC of MRSA_LGA251. In addition, the mecC-encoding region harbors the typical blaZ-mecC-mecR1-mecI structure, corresponding with the class E mec complex. While the sequences downstream of attB in both S. stepanovicii isolates (IMT28705 and CM7717) are partitioned by 15 bp direct repeats, further comparison revealed a remarkable low concordance of gene content, indicating a chromosomal “hot spot” for foreign DNA integration and exchange.ConclusionOur data highlight the necessity for further research on transmission routes of resistance encoding factors from the environmental and wildlife resistome.
Highlights
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important driver for resistance- and virulence factor accumulation in pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus
Our data highlight the necessity for further research on transmission routes of resistance encoding factors from the environmental and wildlife resistome
Methicillin resistance is conferred by an additional penicillin binding protein (PBP2a), which substitutes the transpeptidase function of the native PBP2 during the crucial process of bacterial cell wall building in the presence of beta-lactam antibiotics [2]
Summary
The mecCHarboring Region Is a Recombination Hot Spot in Staphylococcus stepanovicii. Ashley Robinson, University of Mississippi Medical Center, UNITED STATES. Data Availability Statement: Sequence data of the genomic region downstream of bacterial chromosomal attachment site (attB) are available from GenBank accession no. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.
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