Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus sciuri Strains Isolated from Humans

Abstract

We previously characterized over 100 Staphylococcus sciuri isolates, mainly of animal origin, and found that they all carried a genetic element (S. sciuri mecA) closely related to the mecA gene of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. We also found a few isolates that carried a second copy of the gene, identical to MRSA mecA. In this work, we analyzed a collection of 28 S. sciuri strains isolated from both healthy and hospitalized individuals. This was a relatively heterogeneous group, as inferred from the different sources, places, and dates of isolation and as confirmed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis. All strains carried the S. sciuri mecA copy, sustaining our previous proposal that this element belongs to the genetic background of S. sciuri. Moreover, 46% of the strains also carried the MRSA mecA copy. Only these strains showed significant levels of resistance to beta-lactams. Strikingly, the majority of the strains carrying the additional MRSA mecA copy were obtained from healthy individuals in an antibiotic-free environment. Most of the 28 strains were resistant to penicillin, intermediately resistant to clindamycin, and susceptible to tetracycline, erythromycin, and gentamicin. Resistance to these last three antibiotics was found in some strains only. The findings reported in this work confirmed the role of S. sciuri in the evolution of the mechanism of resistance to methicillin in staphylococci and suggested that this species (like the pathogenic staphylococci) may accumulate resistance markers for several classes of antibiotics.

Farm‐derived Gram‐positive bacterium Staphylococcus sciuri W620 prevents asthma phenotype in HDM‐ and OVA‐exposed mice

“…In addition, PCR targeting the mecA gene as a specific marker was performed according to Couto et al. . Further details on S. sciuri W620 detection, isolation, and propagation are given in the method section of the online supplement.…”

Rapid detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pork using a nucleic acid-based lateral flow immunoassay

“…The mecA gene encodes penicillin binding protein 2A, which has low affinity to β-lactam antibiotics and enables transpeptidase activities in the presence of β-lactams, thus endowing the cells with antibiotic resistance by preventing β-lactams from inhibiting cell wall synthesis (Moellering, 2011;Wu et al, 1996). Therefore, the mecA gene has been widely used as a major marker for the characterization of methicillin resistance of S. aureus strains (Corrente et al, 2007;Couto et al, 2000;Felten et al, 2002;Salisbury et al, 1997;van Duijkeren et al, 2014).…”

Staphylococcus sciuri peritonitis in a patient on peritoneal dialysis

“…It has also been isolated from infections of skin and skin structures (Adegoke, ; Coimbra et al, ; Shittu, Lin, Morrison, & Kolawole, ; Stepanović, Dakić, Djukić, Lozuk, & Švabić‐Vlahović, ). Staphylococcus sciuri has also been cultured from the nares, axillae, and pharynxes of healthy individuals, hospital workers and hospitalized patients (Cirkovic et al, ; Couto, Sanches, Sa‐Leao, & de Lencastre, ), and found in the hospital setting on floors, light switches and other surfaces (Dakic et al, ). Staphylococcus sciuri has also been identified in the human genitourinary tract, including rarely in asymptomatic bacteriuria (Stepanovic et al, ) and in vaginal flora (Stepanovic et al, ).…”