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Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus
10:39

Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: March 10, 2017

Staphylococcus sciuri bacteriophages double-convert for staphylokinase and phospholipase, mediate interspecies

M Zeman1, I Mašlaňová1, A Indráková1

  • 1Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.

Scientific Reports
|April 14, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Two novel Staphylococcus sciuri phages, ϕ575 and ϕ879, were identified. These siphophages carry virulence and antibiotic resistance genes, potentially facilitating their spread among staphylococci.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Staphylococcus sciuri is a significant pathogen in animals and humans.
  • S. sciuri harbors the mecA gene, a key factor in methicillin resistance.
  • No bacteriophages infecting S. sciuri were previously known.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize novel bacteriophages of Staphylococcus sciuri.
  • To investigate the genetic makeup and potential roles of these phages in bacterial virulence and antibiotic resistance.
  • To explore the phages' capacity for horizontal gene transfer.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of temperate S. sciuri phages (ϕ575 and ϕ879).
  • Genomic sequencing and analysis of phage genomes (size, ORFs, functional modules).
  • Comparative analysis of phage genes with known staphylococcal phages.

Main Results:

  • Two temperate siphophages, ϕ575 and ϕ879, were identified and characterized.
  • Phage genomes encode virulence factors (staphylokinase, phospholipase) and a mecA gene homologue.
  • Phage ϕ879 demonstrated transduction of antibiotic resistance plasmids between staphylococcal species.
  • Both phages exhibit broad host adsorption across staphylococcal species.

Conclusions:

  • The identified phages represent the first known siphophages of S. sciuri.
  • These phages possess genes that can enhance bacterial host virulence and facilitate the spread of antibiotic resistance.
  • The phages have the potential to mediate horizontal gene transfer among staphylococci, impacting bacterial evolution and epidemiology.

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