Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 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

Molecular characterization and panton-valentine leucocidin typing of community-acquired methicillin-sensitive

Kome Otokunefor1, Tim Sloan, Angela M Kearns

  • 1Centre for Healthcare Associated Infections, School of Molecular Medical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom. mrxko2@nottingham.ac.uk

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|June 22, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Molecular typing of Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL)-positive, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-MSSA) reveals genetic similarities to PVL-MRSA strains. These PVL-MSSA strains may represent precursors to significant emerging S. aureus lineages.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Limited molecular data exist for Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL)-positive, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-MSSA) clinical isolates.
  • PVL-MSSA strains are increasingly recognized in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To perform comprehensive molecular characterization of PVL-MSSA clinical isolates.
  • To compare the genetic relatedness of PVL-MSSA to PVL-MRSA.

Main Methods:

  • Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and spa typing were employed.
  • Analysis included detection of PVL phages and haplotypes.

Main Results:

  • PVL-MSSA isolates exhibited genetic similarity to PVL-MRSA strains.
  • Three novel spa types and one novel MLST (ST1518) were identified.
  • Identical PVL phages and haplotypes were found in both PVL-MSSA and PVL-MRSA isolates.

Conclusions:

  • PVL-MSSA strains share genetic features with PVL-MRSA, suggesting a potential evolutionary link.
  • The findings highlight the role of PVL-MSSA as potential precursors to emerging S. aureus lineages of clinical importance.

More Related Videos

Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR (RS-PCR)08:51

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

Published on: November 4, 2016

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...
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...
Modern Molecular Taxonomy01:29

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...