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mecA-related structure in methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci from street food in Taiwan

Tsung-Ying Yang1, Wei-Wen Hung2, Lin Lin3

  • 1Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Scientific Reports
|February 10, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Ready-to-eat street food in Taiwan harbors methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS). These strains carry mobile antibiotic resistance genes, including staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), posing a public health risk for transmission to clinical settings.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Food Safety
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health concern.
  • Ready-to-eat (RTE) street food can be a potential vehicle for pathogen transmission.
  • Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are opportunistic pathogens, and methicillin-resistant strains (MRCoNS) are of particular concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate antibiotic resistance patterns, mecA homologues, and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) elements in MRCoNS from Taiwanese RTE street food.
  • To determine the genetic diversity of MRCoNS strains.
  • To assess the potential for transmission of antibiotic resistance genes.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of 270 RTE street food samples from three Taiwanese cities.
  • Identification and characterization of MRCoNS strains.
  • Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for genetic diversity analysis.
  • Detection of SCCmec types and mecA homologues (e.g., mecASs).

Main Results:

  • Fourteen MRCoNS strains were identified.
  • SCCmec types IV, V, VIII, and a novel type TXG-24 were detected.
  • The mecASs gene complex, a mecA homologue, was found in eight strains.
  • SCCmecTXG24 contained a class A mec complex, a ccrA5B3-like gene complex, a heavy metal resistance gene complex, and an IS1216 mobile element carrying tet(S).
  • Sequence analysis indicated potential for SCCmec transmission among CoNS.

Conclusions:

  • Taiwanese RTE street food is a reservoir for MRCoNS carrying diverse antibiotic resistance genes.
  • The presence of mobile genetic elements like SCCmec facilitates the spread of antibiotic resistance.
  • Findings highlight the risk of transmitting antibiotic-resistant genes from food environments to clinical settings.

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