Journal
NATURE MEDICINE
Volume 18, Issue 5, Pages 816-U217Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/nm.2692
Keywords
-
Funding
- China National Clinical Key Subject
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [30900026, 81171623]
- Shanghai Pujiang Program [09PJ1402300]
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, US National Institutes of Health
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The molecular processes underlying epidemic waves of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection are poorly understood(1). Although a major role has been attributed to the acquisition of virulence determinants by horizontal gene transfer(2), there are insufficient epidemiological and functional data supporting that concept. We here report the spread of clones containing a previously extremely rare(3,4) mobile genetic element-encoded gene, sasX. We demonstrate that sasX has a key role in MRSA colonization and pathogenesis, substantially enhancing nasal colonization, lung disease and abscess formation and promoting mechanisms of immune evasion. Moreover, we observed the recent spread of sasX from sequence type 239 (ST239) to invasive clones belonging to other sequence types. Our study identifies sasX as a quickly spreading crucial determinant of MRSA pathogenic success and a promising target for therapeutic interference. Our results provide proof of principle that horizontal gene transfer of key virulence determinants drives MRSA epidemic waves.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available