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Updated: Sep 7, 2025
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Emergence of extensive multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carrying novel Sa-MRRlsa(E) in retail food
Shi Wu1, Jiahui Huang1, Feng Zhang1
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and genetic environment of the multidrug resistance gene lsa(E) in food-related Staphyloccocus aureus in China.
Methods:
1463 S. aureus from retail food products in 39 Chinese cities were investigated to determine the prevalence of lsa(E). Furthermore, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and complete genetic analysis were performed in lsa(E)-positive isolates.
Results:
Thirty-five isolates (2.4%) were positive for the lsa(E) gene, which had an extensive multidrug-resistance phenotype. ST9-t899 and ST1-t4792 were the common sequence types in positive strains. The lsa(E) genes were located in two different types of novel multidrug resistance region (MRRlsa[E]) on the chromosome. The Sa-MRRlsa(E)-I were inserted into the lctP gene. The Sa-MRRlsa(E)-II were inserted into the crtP gene, and were comprised of seven antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) interspersed with varieties of insertion sequences (ISs), transposons, and DNA invertase genes, showing a novel arrangement harboring lsa(E). Part of transposon Tn1546 was inserted downstream of lnu(B) in the novel Sa-MRRlsa(E)-II. Both types of Sa-MRRlsa(E) could be excised from the chromosome, indicating that Sa-MRRlsa(E) may be transferable.
Conclusion:
Our study is the first systematical investigation of lsa(E)-positive S. aureus in retail foods in China. It indicated that the origin of most food-related lsa(E)-positive S. aureus in China might be associated with livestock or poultry breeding farms, and these strains may be transmitted between animals and food. S. aureus carrying novel Sa-MRRlsa(E), especially, serve as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance traits, and warrant further attention.
