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Structures of a highly variable cell-wall anchored protein-encoding the spj gene from ST8/SCCmecIVl

Tsai-Wen Wan1,2, Lee-Jene Teng2, Tatsuo Yamamoto1

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Genomics, and Evolution, International Medical Education and Research Center, Niigata, Japan.

Microbiology and Immunology
|April 23, 2019
PubMed

Insights

The staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec IVl (SCCmecIVl) spj gene varies in size due to flexible repeat domains. These variations correlate with different Staphylococcus aureus disease presentations, including bullous impetigo and invasive infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) is a mobile genetic element crucial for methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.
  • The spj gene, encoding a cell wall-anchored protein, is located on SCCmec type IVl (SCCmecIVl).
  • Variations in SCCmec elements can influence bacterial virulence and clinical presentation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural variations within the spj gene on SCCmecIVl.
  • To correlate these variations with different clinical manifestations of Staphylococcus aureus infections.
  • To understand the role of spj gene repeats in bacterial adaptation and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of spj gene structure, focusing on 22-amino acid (aa) and 86-aa repeat domains.
  • Classification of 22-aa repeat units into subtypes based on sequence variations.
  • Correlation of spj gene repeat lengths with clinical data from patients with bullous impetigo, invasive disease, and fatal outcomes.
  • Detection of IS431-flanking pUB110 elements using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

Main Results:

  • The spj gene exhibits size variation attributed to flexible 22-aa and 86-aa repeat domains.
  • The 22-aa repeats, composed of three 11-aa units, were classified into three groups and eleven types.
  • Shorter spj gene repeat lengths were observed in invasive disease, longer lengths in bullous impetigo, and absence in a fatal case.
  • IS431-flanking pUB110 was present on SCCmecIVl in 90% of isolates.
  • The spj product and a unique surface layer were identified on the bacterial surface.

Conclusions:

  • The structural plasticity of the spj gene's repeat domains is a significant feature of SCCmecIVl.
  • Specific spj gene repeat structures are associated with distinct Staphylococcus aureus disease phenotypes.
  • Rapid PCR diagnosis was utilized in a fatal case, highlighting the clinical relevance of these genetic findings.
Keywords:
cell wall-anchored proteincommunity-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureuspUB110staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec IVl

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