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Updated: Feb 9, 2026
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
High diversity in SCCmec elements among multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus strains originating from
Farideh Hosseinkhani1, Matthias Tammes Buirs1, Fereshteh Jabalameli2
1Department of Innovative Molecular Diagnostics, University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Purpose:
Staphylococcus haemolyticus has emerged as a highly antimicrobial-resistant healthcare-associated pathogen, in particular for patients admitted to neonatal intensive care. The objective of this study was to study the nature of SCCmec types among MDR-SH strains isolated from paediatric patients.
Methodology:
S. haemolyticus strains (n=60) were isolated from paediatric patients. Antibiotic resistance patterns were established using the disk agar diffusion and micro-broth dilution methods. SCCmec typing was performed using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and an additional PCR analysis.
Results:
All S. haemolyticus isolates demonstrated multidrug resistance. Using WGS, various novel mec types and combinations of SCCmec types were found, including a new composite island [SCCmec type V (Vd)+SCC cad/ars/cop] comprising 30 % of the strains. SCCmec type V was identified in 23 % of the isolates. A combination of the mecA gene enclosed by two copies of IS431 and absence of the mecRI and ccr genes was identified in 11 strains. In total, mecA regulatory genes were absent in all SH isolates used in this study.
Conclusion:
A high diversity of SCCmec elements with the prevalence of a new composite island was determined among MRSH strains. The structure of the composite island represented by MDR-SH strains in this study, in combination with the presence of a restriction-modification system type III, is described for the first time in this study. The presence of an 8 bp direct repeat (DR) and the sequences flanking the DR may support the integration of the mecA gene complex as a composite transposon (IS431-mecA-IS431) independently from recombinase genes.
Insights
Multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus strains from children show diverse SCCmec types, including a novel composite island. This finding highlights the evolving nature of antimicrobial resistance in this pathogen.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a significant healthcare-associated pathogen, particularly in neonatal intensive care units.
- Increasing antimicrobial resistance in S. haemolyticus poses a threat to vulnerable patient populations.
- Understanding the genetic basis of this resistance, specifically SCCmec types, is crucial for effective treatment and control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diversity and characteristics of SCCmec types among multidrug-resistant S. haemolyticus (MDR-SH) strains isolated from pediatric patients.
- To identify novel genetic elements contributing to antimicrobial resistance in these strains.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of 60 S. haemolyticus strains from pediatric patients.
- Antibiotic resistance profiling using disk agar diffusion and micro-broth dilution methods.
- Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and PCR analysis for SCCmec typing.
Main Results:
- All 60 S. haemolyticus isolates exhibited multidrug resistance.
- WGS revealed diverse SCCmec types, including a novel composite island [SCCmec type V (Vd)+SCC cad/ars/cop] in 30% of strains.
- SCCmec type V was found in 23% of isolates; 11 strains had an mecA gene complex with IS431 elements and lacked mecRI/ccr genes.
Conclusions:
- A high degree of SCCmec element diversity was observed in MRSH strains, with a novel composite island being prevalent.
- The study describes for the first time the structure of this composite island in MDR-SH strains, including a type III restriction-modification system.
- The findings suggest that the mecA gene complex may integrate as a composite transposon independently of recombinase genes, facilitated by direct repeats.
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