Potential associations between severity of infection and the presence of virulence-associated genes in clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

Gill, Steven R

McIntyre, Lauren M

Nelson, Charlotte L

Remortel, Brian

Rude, Tom

Reller, L Barth

Fowler, Vance G

United States

2017-01-01T20:13:23Z

2011-04-26

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.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21541311

1932-6203

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/13324

eng

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

PLoS One

10.1371/journal.pone.0018673

Clone Cells

Comparative 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

Potential associations between severity of infection and the presence of virulence-associated genes in clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

Journal article

Fowler, Vance G|0000-0002-8048-0897

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21541311

e18673

4

Basic Science Departments

Clinical Science Departments

Duke

Duke Clinical Research Institute

Institutes and Centers

Medicine

Medicine, Infectious Diseases

Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Pathology

School of Medicine

Published online

6