Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 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

Characterization of a novel composite staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec-SCCcad/ars/cop) in the neonatal

P Martins Simões1, J-P Rasigade, H Lemriss

  • 1International Centre for Research in Infectious diseases, INSERM U1111, University of Lyon, Lyon, France.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|September 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

A novel composite staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) element was identified in the multiresistant Staphylococcus capitis strain CR01. This element, conferring resistance to heavy metals, was acquired independently.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Multiresistant Staphylococcus capitis, specifically pulsotype NRCS-A, is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections (nosocomial bacteremia) in premature infants.
  • Understanding the genetic basis of antimicrobial resistance in such pathogens is crucial for effective treatment and infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the genetic makeup of the multiresistant Staphylococcus capitis NRCS-A strain CR01.
  • To identify novel mobile genetic elements and resistance genes within this strain.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-genome sequencing of Staphylococcus capitis strain CR01.
  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify and characterize mobile genetic elements, including staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) and SCC elements.
  • Comparative genomic analysis with other published S. capitis strains.

Main Results:

  • Strain CR01 harbors a unique 60.9-kb composite staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) element.
  • This composite element consists of an SCCmec region homologous to Staphylococcus aureus ST398 SCCmec and an SCCcad/ars/cop region carrying resistance genes for cadmium, arsenic, and copper.
  • Comparative genomics suggest independent acquisition of these two elements by strain CR01.

Conclusions:

  • The discovery of a novel composite SCCmec element in S. capitis CR01 provides insight into the evolution and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance.
  • The independent acquisition of SCCmec and SCCcad/ars/cop elements highlights the dynamic nature of bacterial genome plasticity.
  • This finding has implications for understanding and combating nosocomial infections caused by multiresistant bacteria in vulnerable populations.

More Related Videos

A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues07:10

A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues

Published on: February 19, 2019

Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus10:39

Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: March 10, 2017

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...
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...
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...
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...