Large tandem chromosome expansions facilitate niche adaptation during persistent infection with drug-resistant staphylococcus aureus

W Gao; IR Monk; NJ Tobias; SL Gladman; T Seemann; TP Stinear; BP Howden

Journal article

Large tandem chromosome expansions facilitate niche adaptation during persistent infection with drug-resistant staphylococcus aureus

W Gao, IR Monk, NJ Tobias, SL Gladman, T Seemann, TP Stinear, BP Howden

Microbial Genomics | MICROBIOLOGY SOC | Published : 2015

DOI: 10.1099/MGEN.0.000026

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Abstract

We used genomics to study the evolution of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) during a complex, protracted clinical infection. Preparing closed MRSA genomes from days 0 and 115 allowed us to precisely reconstruct all genetic changes that occurred. Twenty-three MRSA blood cultures were also obtained during treatment, yielding 44 colony morphotypes that varied in size, haemolysis and antibiotic susceptibility. A subset of 15 isolates was sequenced and shown to harbour a total of 37 sequence polymorphisms. Eighty per cent of all mutations occurred from day 45 onwards, which coincided with the appearance of discrete chromosome expansions, and concluded in the day 115 isolate with ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Ian Monk Author

Torsten Seemann Author

Tim Stinear Author

Ben Howden Author

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Grants

Awarded by State Government of Victoria

Funding Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (1008973). B.P.H. and T.P.S. are recipients of NHMRC fellowships (1023526 and 1008549, respectively). S.G. and T.S. were supported in part by the VLSCI Life Sciences Computation Centre, a collaboration between Melbourne, Monash and La Trobe Universities, and an initiative of the Victorian Government, Australia.