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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Acquisition of methicillin resistance and progression of multiantibiotic resistance in methicillin-resistant

T Ito1, K Hiramatsu

  • 1Department of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.

Yonsei Medical Journal
|March 31, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) utilizes a unique penicillin-binding protein (PBP2) conferring resistance. This resistance is linked to the novel mobile genetic element, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), which harbors multiple resistance genes.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) possesses a unique penicillin-binding protein, PBP2', with low affinity for most beta-lactam antibiotics.
  • The mecA gene, responsible for this resistance, is located within a region of DNA of presumed extraspecies origin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the novel mobile genetic element associated with the mecA gene.
  • To understand the genetic basis of multi-drug resistance in MRSA.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the genetic region surrounding the mecA gene.
  • Identified and classified the mobile genetic element as staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec).

Main Results:

  • The region surrounding mecA was identified as a novel mobile genetic element, designated staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec).
  • Three distinct types of SCCmec have been identified.
  • MRSA exhibits multi-resistance by accumulating various resistance genes within the SCCmec element around the mecA gene.

Conclusions:

  • SCCmec is a novel mobile genetic element central to MRSA's resistance mechanisms.
  • The accumulation of multiple resistance genes within SCCmec contributes to the broad antibiotic resistance observed in MRSA strains.

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