Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) characterization and panton-valentine leukocidin gene occurrence for

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Multiplex PCR Assay for Typing of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Mec Types I to V in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
09:03

Multiplex PCR Assay for Typing of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Mec Types I to V in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: September 5, 2013

Abdullah Kilic1, Aylin Uskudar Guclu, Zeynep Senses

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and School of Medicine, 06018, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey. abkilic@gata.edu.tr

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
|August 30, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, particularly SCCmec-III, are prevalent in Turkey and associated with severe hospital infections. These strains show distinct genetic profiles and antibiotic resistance patterns compared to other MRSA types.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Epidemiology

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a global health threat, causing severe community-acquired and nosocomial infections.
  • Understanding the molecular epidemiology of MRSA, including SCCmec types and virulence factors like the PVL gene, is crucial for effective treatment and control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the distribution of SCCmec types and the prevalence of the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) gene in MRSA isolates from a Turkish hospital.
  • To correlate these molecular findings with phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility patterns.
  • To provide the first molecular SCCmec typing analysis of MRSA strains in Turkey.

Main Methods:

  • TaqMan real-time PCR was employed to identify SCCmec types and detect the PVL gene.
  • Phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed on 385 clinical MRSA isolates collected between 2003 and 2006.
  • Statistical analysis (chi-squared test) was used to correlate molecular types with infection sites and antibiotic resistance.

Main Results:

  • SCCmec type III was the predominant type (82.1%), followed by types IV and V (10.3%).
  • SCCmec-I/II/III MRSA strains were more frequently isolated from serious infections in surgical and intensive care units, and bloodstream infections.
  • SCCmec-IV/V strains were more often associated with skin and soft tissue infections, and carried the PVL gene more frequently (10.0%) than SCCmec-I/II/III strains (0.3%).
  • SCCmec-I/II/III MRSA strains exhibited higher resistance to clindamycin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, erythromycin, gentamicin, and rifampin.

Conclusions:

  • SCCmec-III MRSA strains lacking the PVL gene are the dominant MRSA type in the studied Turkish hospital.
  • SCCmec-I/II/III MRSA strains are associated with severe infections in critical care settings.
  • The findings highlight the importance of molecular typing for understanding MRSA epidemiology and guiding clinical management in Turkey.

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...