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Updated: May 13, 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

Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec: recent advances and new insights

Anna C Shore1, David C Coleman

  • 1Microbiology Research Unit, Dublin Dental University Hospital, University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. anna.shore@dental.tcd.ie

International Journal of Medical Microbiology : IJMM
|March 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) elements, including SCCmec, are diverse mobile genetic elements. Understanding their evolution is key to tracking MRSA and antimicrobial resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) elements are mobile genetic elements found in staphylococci.
  • These elements frequently carry antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes.
  • SCCmec, a specific type of SCC, harbors the methicillin resistance gene (mec).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on the diversity of SCCmec elements.
  • To highlight the contribution of SCC elements to the evolution of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
  • To discuss the challenges and importance of characterizing these elements.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on SCC and SCCmec elements.
  • Identification and analysis of novel mec genes and allelic variants.
  • Characterization of various SCC elements, composite islands (CIs), and their precursors.

Main Results:

  • Discovery of novel mec genes and allelic variants.
  • Identification of a wide range of ccr and mec complex genes, SCCmec, SCC, and pseudo SCC/SCCmec elements, and CIs.
  • Evidence for potential SCC and SCCmec precursors in coagulase-negative staphylococci.
  • Identification of SCC-encoded virulence-associated genes.

Conclusions:

  • The increasing diversity of SCC and SCCmec elements presents a significant challenge for characterization.
  • Detailed analysis of these elements is crucial for epidemiological typing and tracking of MRSA.
  • Understanding SCC element diversity enhances knowledge of MRSA origins and evolution.
Keywords:
Coagulase-negative staphylococciComposite islandsMRSASCCSCCmecmecAmecC

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