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Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR (RS-PCR)

Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR (RS-PCR)

Published on: November 4, 2016

Variations in spa types found in consecutive MRSA isolates from the same patients.

Kit Boye¹, Henrik Westh

¹Department of Clinical Microbiology 445, MRSA Knowledge Center, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark. kit.boye@hvh.regionh.dk

FEMS Microbiology Letters

|November 25, 2010

Summary

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) spa gene mutations are rare in individual patients over time. When they occur, common changes include repeat deletions, duplications, and point mutations in MRSA strains.

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Published on: September 5, 2013

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

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

Published on: September 5, 2013

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Genetics
Infectious Diseases

Background:

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant global health threat.
Understanding the genetic dynamics of MRSA, specifically spa gene mutations within individual patients, is crucial for tracking its evolution.
Copenhagen exhibits low MRSA prevalence but high spa type diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the frequency and types of spa gene mutations in MRSA isolates from the same patient over a five-year period.
To characterize the specific genetic alterations occurring in the spa gene within persistent MRSA infections.

Main Methods:

Collection of 1536 MRSA isolates from 319 patients over five years.
Analysis of spa gene types to identify alterations within individual patient isolates.
Categorization of observed spa gene mutations.

Main Results:

Spa type alterations were detected in 30 MRSA isolates (2%) from 13 patients (4%).
The most frequent spa gene alterations observed were repeat deletions, followed by repeat duplications.
Point mutations were also identified as a mechanism of spa gene alteration.

Conclusions:

Spa gene mutations within MRSA isolates from the same patient are infrequent over a five-year period.
The primary mechanisms of spa gene alteration in this cohort were deletions and duplications of repeats.
These findings contribute to understanding MRSA genetic stability and evolution in persistent infections.