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Horizontal transfer and phylogenetic distribution of the immune evasion factor tarP

David Gerlach1,2,3, Raphael N Sieber4, Jesper Larsen4

  • 1Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Infection Biology Section, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|November 17, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) TarP phages, crucial for immune evasion, are restricted by specific MRSA defenses. Understanding these barriers reveals potential spread to new MRSA clones.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) utilizes the prophage-encoded tarP gene for immune evasion by glycosylating Wall Teichoic Acid (WTA).
  • tarP phages are currently restricted to specific MRSA lineages like CC5 and CC398, with the reasons for this limitation being unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms governing the host range of tarP-encoding phages in Staphylococcus aureus.
  • To determine factors influencing the transfer and spread of tarP phages among different MRSA clonal lineages.

Main Methods:

  • Bacteriophage transduction experiments were performed to assess the transfer of tarP-encoding prophages between various Staphylococcus aureus strains.
  • Analysis of Wall Teichoic Acid (WTA) glycosylation patterns in different MRSA clones.
  • Investigation of restriction-modification systems in MRSA clones resistant to tarP phage infection.

Main Results:

  • tarP-encoding prophages can lysogenize other Staphylococcus aureus strains, but transfer is predominantly observed within closely related clones.
  • The presence of the tarM gene in non-transducible clones does not impede tarP phage infection.
  • Clonal complex-specific Type I restriction-modification systems were identified as the primary barrier to tarP phage infection in resistant MRSA clones.

Conclusions:

  • Restriction-modification systems are key determinants of tarP phage host range in Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Despite observed restrictions, tarP phages have the potential to spread to diverse MRSA clonal lineages, contributing to the emergence of new MRSA clones.
Keywords:
Staphylococcus aureusbacterial genomicsbacteriophagehorizontal gene transferteichoic acids

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