Pathogenicity and resistance islands of staphylococci

Variable generic elements including plasmids, transposons and prophages are involved in pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance, and are an important component of the staphylococcal genome. This review covers a set of newly described variable chromosomal elements, pathogenicity and resistance islands, carrying superantigen and resistance genes, especially toxic shock and methicillin resistance, respectively. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.