Evolutionary Dynamics of Successful Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of bacterial infections in humans and a leading nosocomial pathogen, associated with significant morbidity, mortality and economic impact. A cornerstone in the evolution of staphylococcal lineages that infect humans has been their remarkable ability to rapidly and efficiently develop or acquire mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, impacting effective disease management, prevention, and eradication. Improving these measures or developing novel approaches requires a comprehensive understanding of the infecting agent and while S. aureus has been extensively studied there remains considerable gaps in our knowledge surrounding this pathogen, especially c..