Acquisition of virulence factors in livestock-associated MRSA
Staphylococcus aureus MRSA strains belonging to the clonal complex 398 (CC398) are highly prevalent in livestock and companion animals but may also cause serious infections in humans. The authors isolated and characterized four temperate phages (P240, P282, P630 and P1105) containing genes of the immune evasion cluster (IEC) and/or for the Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL). The data demonstrate that lysogenic conversion of LA-CC398 strains by virulence-associated phages may occur and that new pathotypes may emerge by this mechanism.
Acquisition of virulence factors in livestock-associated MRSA: Lysogenic conversion of CC398 strains by virulence gene-containing phages
Kraushaar B., Hammerl J., Kienöl M., Heinig M., Sperling N., Dinh Thanh M., Reetz J., Jäckel C., Fetsch A., Hertwig S.
Nature.com, Scientific Reports 7
Published online: 17. May 2017
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02175-4.