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Multiplex PCR Assay for Typing of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Mec Types I to V in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: September 5, 2013
Differential expression of ccrA in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains carrying staphylococcal
Paul G Higgins1, Adriana E Rosato, Harald Seifert
1Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Abstract:
Excision of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) is mediated through the ccrA- and -B-encoded recombinases. We investigated the effects of different antimicrobial agents on ccrA expression by using a ccrA::lacZ fusion and reverse transcription-PCR with methicillin (meticillin)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains MW2 (SCCmec IVa) and N315 (SCCmec II). Upregulation of ccrA was observed upon exposure to beta-lactam antibiotics. Vancomycin increased ccrA expression in MW2 but had no effect on N315. Vancomycin may contribute to the transfer of SCCmec IVa but have no effect in SCCmec II.
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