Multilocus Sequence Typing Analysis of Staphylococcus lugdunensis Implies a Clonal Population Structure

Abstract

Staphylococcus lugdunensis is recognized as one of the major pathogenic species within the genus Staphylococcus , even though it belongs to the coagulase-negative group. A multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme was developed to study the genetic relationships and population structure of 87 S. lugdunensis isolates from various clinical and geographic sources by DNA sequence analysis of seven housekeeping genes ( aroE , dat , ddl , gmk , ldh , recA , and yqiL ). The number of alleles ranged from four ( gmk and ldh ) to nine ( yqiL ). Allelic profiles allowed the definition of 20 different sequence types (STs) and five clonal complexes. The 20 STs lacked correlation with geographic source. Isolates recovered from hematogenic infections (blood or osteoarticular isolates) or from skin and soft tissue infections did not cluster in separate lineages. Penicillin-resistant isolates clustered mainly in one clonal complex, unlike glycopeptide-tolerant isolates, which did not constitute a distinct subpopulation within S. lugdunensis . Phylogenies from the sequences of the seven individual housekeeping genes were congruent, indicating a predominantly mutational evolution of these genes. Quantitative analysis of the linkages between alleles from the seven loci revealed a significant linkage disequilibrium, thus confirming a clonal population structure for S. lugdunensis . This first MLST scheme for S. lugdunensis provides a new tool for investigating the macroepidemiology and phylogeny of this unusually virulent coagulase-negative Staphylococcus .

Multi-Virulence-Locus Sequence Typing of Staphylococcus lugdunensis Generates Results Consistent with a Clonal Population Structure and Is Reliable for Epidemiological Typing

“…A total of 87 strains (3 reference strains and 84 clinical isolates) investigated in this study were previously analyzed by MLST (44). In the present study, the STs of S. lugdunensis N920143 and of six carriage strains of S. lugdunensis were determined using the Institut Pasteur MLST databases (www.pasteur.fr/mlst).…”

“…Ninety-three S. lugdunensis isolates were studied. The set included 3 S. lugdunensis reference strains (ATCC 49576, ATCC 43809, and ATCC 700328), 84 human clinical isolates collected between 1991 and 2011 from 8 different geographic sources and 3 countries (France, Belgium, and Slovenia) (44), and 6 S. lugdunensis carriage strains isolated from the groin, perineum, nail, toe, and axilla of healthy subjects from Kronoberg County in Sweden (1) or from Tours in France (48). The genome sequence data of the S. lugdunensis N920143 strain (30) were included.…”

“…MLST was performed for the 6 carriage strains, as previously described (44). Allelic profiles and sequence types (ST) were assigned by using the international MLST database (www.pasteur.fr/mlst).…”

“…In an attempt to better understand the genetic background and population structure of S. lugdunensis, we recently developed the first multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for this species (44). This phylogenetic analysis revealed a clonal population structure, a mutational evolution of this pathogen, and a lack of hypervirulent lineages.…”

Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus lugdunensis Cause Pyogenic Osteomyelitis in an Intramedullary Nail Model in Rabbits

“…Currently, the exact role played by CAMP 1 and the other CAMP factor homologues is unclear, but they may play an important role in the survival of P. acnes within the human host as well as contributing to a pathogenic lifestyle (16). Recently, an MLST scheme and database for S. lugdunensis were described based on the analysis of seven core housekeeping genes (44). A clonal population structure with limited sequence diversity was revealed, and isolates recovered from hematogenic infections (blood or osteoarticular isolates) or from skin and soft tissue infections were not found to cluster in separate lineages.…”