Draft Whole-Genome Sequence of a Catalase-Negative Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus (Sequence Type 25) Strain Isolated from a Patient with Endocarditis and Septic Arthritis.

Byron Berenger,Kathryn Bernard,Anne-Marie Bernier,Justin Chen

doi:10.1128/genomea.01442-16

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus strains without catalase activity are rare, challenging to identify with conventional biochemical methods, and, despite a supposed decreased pathogenicity, can still cause disease. The first whole-genome sequence of a catalase-negative S. aureus isolate causing severe recurrent invasive infection with two novel missense mutations in the katA gene is reported here.

Highlights

Catalase protects bacteria from hydrogen peroxide and is used in the phenotypic identification of Staphylococcus aureus [1, 2]
CN-MSSA was isolated from blood, the aortic valve, and knee synovial fluid; the bacterium grew well in air at 35°C in 24 h, with golden-pigmented, betahemolytic colonies which were tube- and slide-coagulase positive [9]
Five days after completing the antibiotic course, the patient presented with relapsed CN-MSSA bacteremia, development of an aortic root abscess, and new mitral and tricuspid valve vegetations

Summary

Introduction

Catalase protects bacteria from hydrogen peroxide and is used in the phenotypic identification of Staphylococcus aureus [1, 2]. Despite a potential role in pathogenicity, catalase-negative isolates can cause infections [3,4,5]. Sequencing of the katA gene has revealed multiple mutations/deletions responsible for this phenotype [6,7,8], but no whole-genome sequence has been performed on catalase-negative isolates of this important pathogen. A catalase-negative (3% H2O2), methicillin-susceptible S. aureus subsp.

Results

Conclusion