Australian scientists have identified specific genes responsible for antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, a very common bacteria.
- The most common strain of staphylococcus is Staphylococcus aureus.
- It is possible that Staphylococcus aureus may become antibiotic resistant.
- Specific genes are responsible for antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, according to a recent Australian study.
Nearly 30 to 50% of the general population is a healthy carrier of staphylococcus, indicates the Pasteur Institute. Staphylococci include a group of bacteria, which can cause various infections and varying degrees of severity.
Why can Staphylococcus aureus be resistant to antibiotics?
Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) is the most frequently encountered strain of staphylococcus. This bacteria can cause different pathologies ranging from mild skin infections to acute infections of the blood and internal organs. In addition, Staphylococcus aureus is able to become resistant to antibiotics, which can have adverse consequences on the health of patients.
Researchers from the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity (Australia) recently analyzed the genetic profiles of more than 1,300 strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The genome of this panel of bacteria was therefore analyzed to identify mutations, which appear most often in strains presenting a certain characteristic such as resistance to antibiotics. This work was published in the journal Cell Reports.
Staphylococcus aureus: specific genes associated with antibiotic resistance
During the study, scientists combined this data with information about patients and antibiotics. They found that specific genes are linked to antibiotic resistance, as well as the bacteria’s ability to persist in the blood, evading antibiotics and the immune system.
“To our knowledge, this is one of the first times that the method we used, called genome-wide association study (GWAS), has been applied to study the role of bacterial genomes, factors of the host and antibiotics in the progression of staphylococcal septicemia”underlined Dr Stefano Giulieri, lead author of the study and clinician-researcher at the Doherty Institute at the University of Melbourne. Before adding: “Our study has provided insight into the complex genetic dynamics underlying serious Staphylococcus aureus infections. It highlights the potential of combining whole genome sequencing of bacteria, clinical data and sophisticated statistical genomics to discover clinically relevant bacterial factors that influence infection outcomes.”
