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Potential associations between severity of infection and the presence of virulence-associated genes in clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The clinical spectrum of Staphylococcus aureus infection ranges from asymptomatic
nasal carriage to osteomyelitis, infective endocarditis (IE) and death. In this study,
we evaluate potential association between the presence of specific genes in a collection
of prospectively characterized S. aureus clinical isolates and clinical outcome. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL
FINDINGS: Two hundred thirty-nine S. aureus isolates (121 methicillin-resistant S.
aureus [MRSA] and 118 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus [MSSA]) were screened by array
comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) to identify genes implicated in complicated
infections. After adjustment for multiple tests, 226 genes were significantly associated
with severity of infection. Of these 226 genes, 185 were not in the SCCmec element.
Within the 185 non-SCCmec genes, 171 were less common and 14 more common in the complicated
infection group. Among the 41 genes in the SCCmec element, 37 were more common and
4 were less common in the complicated group. A total of 51 of the 2014 sequences evaluated,
14 non-SCCmec and 37 SCCmec, were identified as genes of interest. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:
Of the 171 genes less common in complicated infections, 152 are of unknown function
and may contribute to attenuation of virulence. The 14 non-SCCmec genes more common
in complicated infections include bacteriophage-encoded genes such as regulatory factors
and autolysins with potential roles in tissue adhesion or biofilm formation.
Type
Journal articleSubject
Clone CellsComparative Genomic Hybridization
Genes, Bacterial
Genotype
Humans
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
Reproducibility of Results
Staphylococcal Infections
Staphylococcus aureus
Virulence
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/13324Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1371/journal.pone.0018673Publication Info
Gill, Steven R; McIntyre, Lauren M; Nelson, Charlotte L; Remortel, Brian; Rude, Tom;
Reller, L Barth; & Fowler, Vance G (2011). Potential associations between severity of infection and the presence of virulence-associated
genes in clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus. PLoS One, 6(4). pp. e18673. 10.1371/journal.pone.0018673. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/13324.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Vance Garrison Fowler Jr.
Florence McAlister Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Determinants of Outcome in Patients with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia Antibacterial
ResistancePathogenesis of Bacterial Infections Tropical medicine/International Health
Lyman Barth Reller
Professor of Pathology
To develop and to evaluate procedures and protocols that support, enhance, and extend
the ability of the clinical laboratories to carry out effectively their primary service
and teaching responsibilities as relates to detection of sepsis, antimicrobial susceptibility
testing, and diagnosis of tuberculosis.
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