SCC mec transformation requires living donor cells in mixed biofilms

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is an important human pathogen that has emerged through the horizontal acquisition of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC ). Previously, we showed that SCC from heat-killed donors can be transferred via natural transformation in biofilms at frequencies of 10 -10...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biofilm 2024-06, Vol.7, p.100184
Main Authors: Maree, Mais, Ushijima, Yuri, Fernandes, Pedro B, Higashide, Masato, Morikawa, Kazuya
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is an important human pathogen that has emerged through the horizontal acquisition of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC ). Previously, we showed that SCC from heat-killed donors can be transferred via natural transformation in biofilms at frequencies of 10 -10 . Here, we show an improved transformation assay of SCC with frequencies up to 10 using co-cultured biofilms with living donor cells. The Ccr- system played an important role in SCC transfer, and the deletion of recombinase genes reduced the frequency ∼30-fold. SCC could be transferred from either MRSA or methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci to some methicillin-sensitive recipients. In addition, the transformation of other plasmid or chromosomal genes is enhanced by using living donor cells. This study emphasizes the role of natural transformation as an evolutionary ability of and in MRSA emergence.
ISSN:2590-2075