The aim of this study was to compare a real-time PCR assay, with a conventional culture/PCR method, to detect S. aureus, mecA and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) genes in animals and retail meat, using a two-step selective enrichment protocol. A total of 234 samples were examined (77 animal nasal swabs, 112 retail raw meat, and 45 deli meat). The multiplex real-time PCR targeted the genes: nu...

During the process of lymphocyte recirculation, lymphocytes bind via L-selectin to sulfated sialyl-Lewisx (sLex)-containing carbohydrate ligands expressed on the surface of high endothelial venules (HEV). We have examined the expression of sLex on HEV using a panel of mAbs specific for sLex and sLex-related structures, and have examined the function of different sLex-bearing structures using an...

Abstract Introduction/Objective Parenteral therapy for invasive staphylococcal infections often comprises lipo/glycopeptides methicillin resistant (MR) organisms, with extended spectrum penicillins reserved those confirmed as susceptible (MS). While phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) using cefoxitin has high accuracy differentiating MR/MS S. aureus, the same, simple approach ...

Whole-genome sequencing was used to compare longitudinal isolates of Staphylococcus aureus that developed resistance to oxacillin (MIC up to 16 μg/ml). The mecA gene was absent. A novel 5-bp TATCC frameshift insertion in a gene encoding an ABC transporter similar to that of the teichoic acid translocation ATP-binding protein TagH and a 3-bp GCT nonframeshift insertion in the pdhA pyruvate dehyd...

Staphylococcus intermedius is a zoonotic organism that can be associated with human disease. We report two separate cases of S. intermedius infection in which a false-positive rapid penicillin binding protein 2a latex test in conjunction with the phenotypic properties of beta-hemolysis and coagulase positivity allowed the clinical isolates to masquerade as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus a...

Sampling animals for carriage of meticillin-resistant, coagulase-positive staphylococci (MRCoPS), considered zoonotic pathogens, can be challenging and time-consuming. Developing methods to identify mecA from non-invasive samples, e.g., faeces, would benefit AMR surveillance management MRS carrier animals. This study aimed distinguish carriers non-carriers faecal samples using quantitative poly...

An advanced methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) detection PCR approach targeting SCCmec-orfX along with mecA and mecC was evaluated for S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci. The possession of mecA and/or mecC was correctly confirmed in all cases. All methicillin-susceptible S. aureus strains (n = 98; including staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element [SCCmec] remn...

Recently, we have demonstrated that the cognate regulatory locus of the mecA gene in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is in fact a three-component system containing the novel mecR2 gene coding for an antirepressor. MecR2 interacts with the repressor MecI, disturbing its binding to the mecA promoter and fostering its proteolysis. Here, we engineered a point mutation in the puta...

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major causes of clinical infections and increasing mortality due to multi-drug resistance. In this study, eight drug-resistant genes, beta-lactamase, metallo-beta-lactamase, vanB, mecA, norA, qacA, qacB and qacC of S. aureus strain Mu50 (vancomycin resistant) were studied to predict the evolutionary conserved functional site residues in their protein sequence...

S. aureus combats cell wall antibiotic stress by altered gene expression mediated by various environmental signal sensors. In this study, we examined the transcriptional regulation of trfA, a gene related to mecA of Bacillus subtilis encoding an adaptor protein implicated in multiple roles, notably, proteolysis and genetic competence. Despite strong sequence similarity to B. subtilis mecA, the ...