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Characteristics of the community-genotype sequence type 72 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates that underlie their persistence in hospitals

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Abstract

Panton-Valentine leukocidin-negative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clone ST72, known as a major community-associated MRSA in Korea, has emerged as an important pathogen in hospitals. To understand bacterial properties that underlie transformation of this clone into a nosocomial pathogen, we compared characteristics of the community-genotype ST72 MRSA isolates with those of ST5 and ST239 MRSA, which have been predominant nosocomial MRSA clones in Korea. Several genes associated with adhesion and virulence were absent or rarely found in ST72 isolates. Many ST72 isolates (70.1%) belonged to agr group I, but the agr group of other ST72 isolates could not be determined. As indicated by d-hemolysin production, ST72 isolates expressed fully functional agr, whereas agr dysfunction was observed in ST5 and ST239 isolates. In the biofilm formation assay, no upregulation of biofilm-forming activity of ST72 MRSA was detected. However, ST72 isolates demonstrated persistence under hypotonic and desiccating conditions (survival rates 72.3% and 33.9%, respectively), which was similar to characteristics of ST5 or ST239 isolates. ST72- MRSA isolates showed low virulence, but properties of their functional agr system could facilitate their spread in hospitals. In conclusion, tolerance to stressful environments, e.g., hypotonic and dry conditions, may also contribute to survival of the community-associated MRSA clones in healthcare facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 03181, Republic of Korea

    Eun-Jeong Joo

  2. Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea

    Ji-Young Choi & Kwan Soo Ko

  3. Division of Infectious Diseases, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea

    Doo Ryeon Chung & Jae-Hoon Song

  4. Asia-Pacific Foundation for Infectious Diseases (APFID), Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea

    Doo Ryeon Chung, Jae-Hoon Song & Kwan Soo Ko

Authors
  1. Eun-Jeong Joo
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  2. Ji-Young Choi
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  3. Doo Ryeon Chung
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  4. Jae-Hoon Song
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  5. Kwan Soo Ko
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Correspondence to Kwan Soo Ko.

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Joo, EJ., Choi, JY., Chung, D.R. et al. Characteristics of the community-genotype sequence type 72 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates that underlie their persistence in hospitals. J Microbiol. 54, 445–450 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-016-6157-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-016-6157-x

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