Transfer of antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Haaber, J., Penadés, J. R. and Ingmer, H. (2017) Transfer of antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. Trends in Microbiology, 25(11), pp. 893-905. (doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2017.05.011) (PMID:28641931)

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a serious human pathogen with remarkable adaptive powers. Antibiotic-resistant clones rapidly emerge mainly by acquisition of antibiotic-resistance genes from other S. aureus strains or even from other genera. Transfer is mediated by a diverse complement of mobile genetic elements and occurs primarily by conjugation or bacteriophage transduction, with the latter traditionally being perceived as the primary route. Recent work on conjugation and transduction suggests that transfer by these mechanisms may be more extensive than previously thought, in terms of the range of plasmids that can be transferred by conjugation and the efficiency with which transduction occurs. Here, we review the main routes of antibiotic resistance gene transfer in S. aureus in the context of its biology as a human commensal and a life-threatening pathogen.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Danish National Research Foundation’s Centre of Excellence Bacterial Stress Response and Persistence, grant identifier DNRF120 (HI) and the Danish Research Council, Sapere Aude – Young Elite Researcher grant (JH).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Penades, Prof Jose R
• Authors: Haaber, J., Penadés, J. R., and Ingmer, H.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Trends in Microbiology
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press)
• ISSN: 0966-842X
• ISSN (Online): 1878-4380
• Published Online: 20 June 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Trends in Microbiology 25(11): 893-905
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy