Emergence and clonal expansion of a qacA-harbouring sequence type 45 lineage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Yi Nong; Eike Steinig; Georgina L Pollock; George Taiaroa; Glen P Carter; Ian R Monk; Stanley Pang; Denise A Daley; Geoffrey W Coombs; Brian M Forde; Patrick N A Harris; Norelle L Sherry; Benjamin P Howden; Shivani Pasricha; Sarah L Baines; Deborah A Williamson

doi:10.1038/s42003-024-06012-z

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Emergence and clonal expansion of a qacA-harbouring sequence type 45 lineage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

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Emergence and clonal expansion of a qacA-harbouring sequence type 45 lineage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Yi Nong, Eike Steinig, Georgina L Pollock, George Taiaroa, Glen P Carter, Ian R Monk, Stanley Pang, Denise A Daley, Geoffrey W Coombs, Brian M Forde, …

Communications biology, Vol.7(1), 349

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06012-z

PMID: 38514781

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Abstract

Australia

Bacterial Proteins - genetics

Bayes Theorem

Humans

Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - genetics

Phylogeny

Staphylococcal Infections - epidemiology

Staphylococcus aureus - genetics

The past decade has seen an increase in the prevalence of sequence type (ST) 45 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), yet the underlying drivers for its emergence and spread remain unclear. To better understand the worldwide dissemination of ST45 S. aureus, we performed phylogenetic analyses of Australian isolates, supplemented with a global population of ST45 S. aureus genomes. Our analyses revealed a distinct lineage of multidrug-resistant ST45 MRSA harbouring qacA, predominantly found in Australia and Singapore. Bayesian inference predicted that the acquisition of qacA occurred in the late 1990s. qacA was integrated into a structurally variable region of the chromosome containing Tn552 (carrying blaZ) and Tn4001 (carrying aac(6')-aph(2")) transposable elements. Using mutagenesis and in vitro assays, we provide phenotypic evidence that qacA confers tolerance to chlorhexidine. These findings collectively suggest both antimicrobial resistance and the carriage of qacA may play a role in the successful establishment of ST45 MRSA.

Details

Title: Emergence and clonal expansion of a qacA-harbouring sequence type 45 lineage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors/Creators: Yi Nong - The University of Melbourne
Eike Steinig - The University of Melbourne
Georgina L Pollock - The University of Melbourne
George Taiaroa - The University of Melbourne
Glen P Carter - The University of Melbourne
Ian R Monk - The University of Melbourne
Stanley Pang - Murdoch University, Centre for Biosecurity and One Health
Denise A Daley - Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance
Geoffrey W Coombs - Murdoch University, Centre for Biosecurity and One Health
Brian M Forde - The University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Patrick N A Harris - Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
Norelle L Sherry - The University of Melbourne
Benjamin P Howden - The University of Melbourne
Shivani Pasricha - The University of Melbourne
Sarah L Baines - The University of Melbourne
Deborah A Williamson - Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory
Publication Details: Communications biology, Vol.7(1), 349
Publisher: Springer Nature
Identifiers: 991005651569407891
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.23 Antibiotics & Antimicrobials; 1.23.173 MRSA and VRE
Web Of Science research areas: Biology
ESI research areas: Biology & Biochemistry