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. 2015 Sep 11;9(9):e0004049.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004049. eCollection 2015.

Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Transmitted between Patients with Buruli Ulcer

Nana Ama Amissah  1 , Monika A Chlebowicz  2 , Anthony Ablordey  3 , Artur J Sabat  2 , Caitlin S Tetteh  3 , Isaac Prah  3 , Tjip S van der Werf  4 , Alex W Friedrich  2 , Jan Maarten van Dijl  2 , John W Rossen  2 , Ymkje Stienstra  4
Affiliations

Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Transmitted between Patients with Buruli Ulcer

Nana Ama Amissah et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Buruli ulcer (BU) is a skin infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The wounds of most BU patients are colonized with different microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus.

Methodology: This study investigated possible patient-to-patient transmission events of S. aureus during wound care in a health care center. S. aureus isolates from different BU patients with overlapping visits to the clinic were whole-genome sequenced and analyzed by a gene-by-gene approach using SeqSphere(+) software. In addition, sequence data were screened for the presence of genes that conferred antibiotic resistance.

Principal findings: SeqSphere(+) analysis of whole-genome sequence data confirmed transmission of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin susceptible S. aureus among patients that took place during wound care. Interestingly, our sequence data show that the investigated MRSA isolates carry a novel allele of the fexB gene conferring chloramphenicol resistance, which had thus far not been observed in S. aureus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. MLVF and SeqSphere+ dendrograms of 21 S. aureus isolates from BU patients.
The dendrograms were generated using the UPGMA algorithm. (A), Dendrogram showing the previously identified MLVF clusters A-M. (B), SeqSphere+ dendrogram showing the 14 CTs identified in the present study. The reference strains COL (GenBank accession no. NC_002951) and N315 (GenBank accession no. BA000018.3) were included in the SeqSphere+ dendrogram. Isolates (BU_G0201_t8 and BU_G0202_t2 belonging to CT 545 and BU_G1074_t4 and BU_G1001_t8 belonging to CT 547) originating from patients 2 and 10 at two different time points are included in both transmission events. NA means ‘Not Applicable’.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Minimum spanning tree showing the allelic difference between 21 S. aureus isolated from BU patients.
The tree was generated using the SeqSphere+ software. The node size in the tree is proportional to the frequency of genotype occurrence. The allelic difference between S. aureus isolates is indicated as numbers between each node. Isolates with blue and red circles belonging to CTs 545 (MLVF cluster H) and 547 (MLVF cluster F) confirm transmission events. Isolates with green and yellow circles belonging to CTs 549 and 550 were initially grouped in MLVF cluster L and do not confirm transmission events.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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