Draft Genome Sequences of a Unique t324-ST541-V Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strain from a Pig

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genomics
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections.
• MRSA strains have been increasingly identified in non-human sources, including livestock.
• Livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) poses a growing public health concern due to potential transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform whole-genome sequencing of a novel MRSA ST541 strain (K12PJN53) isolated from a healthy pig.
• To analyze the genomic features of this livestock-associated MRSA strain.
• To understand the genetic relatedness of ST541 MRSA to other known MRSA strains.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of MRSA strain K12PJN53 from a healthy pig.
• Whole-genome sequencing and assembly of the K12PJN53 isolate.
• Bioinformatic analysis of the assembled genome to identify genes related to antimicrobial resistance, adherence, and toxins.

Main Results:

• The draft genome sequence of K12PJN53 comprises 44 contigs, totaling 2,880,108 bases.
• Annotated contigs revealed the presence of genes associated with antimicrobial resistance (14 contigs), adherence (17 contigs), and toxin production (18 contigs).
• Genomic analysis indicated that strain K12PJN53 is phylogenetically close to ST398 MRSA strains.

Conclusions:

• This study presents the first draft genome sequence of a novel livestock-associated MRSA ST541 strain.
• The genomic data provides insights into the genetic makeup of LA-MRSA ST541, including resistance and virulence factors.
• The findings highlight the importance of monitoring MRSA in livestock populations and understanding its genomic diversity.