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<p>Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are a diverse group of Gram-positive bacteria that are part of the normal human microbiota. Once thought to be non-pathogenic, CoNS has emerged in recent years as opportunistic pathogens of concern particularly in healthcare settings. In this study, the genomes of four methicillin-resistant CoNS isolates obtained from the nasal swabs of healthy university medical students in Malaysia were sequenced using the Illumina short-read platform. Genome sequencing enabled the identification of the four isolates as <i>Staphylococcus warneri</i> UTAR-CoNS1, <i>Staphylococcus cohnii</i> subsp. <i>cohnii</i> UTAR-CoNS6, <i>Staphylococcus capitis</i> subsp. <i>urealyticus</i> UTAR-CoNS20, and <i>Staphylococcus haemolyticus</i> UTAR-CoNS26. The genome of <i>S. cohnnii</i> UTAR-CoNS6 harboured the <i>mecA</i> methicillin-resistance gene on a Staphylococcal cassette chromosome <i>mec</i> (SCC<i>mec</i>) element similar to SCC<i>mec</i> type XIV (5&#xa0;A) but the SCC<i>mec</i> cassettes identified in the other three CoNS genomes were novel and untypeable. Some of these SCC<i>mec</i> elements also encoded heavy metal resistance genes while the SCC<i>mec</i> type XIV (5&#xa0;A) variant in <i>S. cohnii</i> UTAR-CoNS6 harboured the complete <i>ica</i> operon, a known virulence factor that functions in biofilm formation. In <i>S. cohnii</i> UTAR-CoNS6, the macrolide resistance genes <i>msrA</i> and <i>mphC</i> along with copper and cadmium resistance genes were located on a 26,630&#xa0;bp plasmid, pUCNS6. This study showcased the diversity of CoNS in the nasal microbiota of medical students but the discovery of novel SCC<i>mec</i> elements, various antimicrobial and heavy metal resistance along with virulence genes in these isolates is of concern and warrants vigilance due to the likelihood of spread, especially to hospitalised patients.</p>

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Genomic characterisation of nasal isolates of coagulase-negative Staphylococci from healthy medical students reveals novel Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec elements

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月1日

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  • Soo Sum Lean,
  • Linah Wetthasinghe,
  • Kai Shian Sim,
  • Hong Xu Chong,
  • Shafeeq Irshaad Bin Sharfudeen,
  • Yee Wei Chen,
  • Yu Yin Lim,
  • Hoon Koon Teoh,
  • Chew Chieng Yeo,
  • Hien Fuh Ng

摘要

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are a diverse group of Gram-positive bacteria that are part of the normal human microbiota. Once thought to be non-pathogenic, CoNS has emerged in recent years as opportunistic pathogens of concern particularly in healthcare settings. In this study, the genomes of four methicillin-resistant CoNS isolates obtained from the nasal swabs of healthy university medical students in Malaysia were sequenced using the Illumina short-read platform. Genome sequencing enabled the identification of the four isolates as Staphylococcus warneri UTAR-CoNS1, Staphylococcus cohnii subsp. cohnii UTAR-CoNS6, Staphylococcus capitis subsp. urealyticus UTAR-CoNS20, and Staphylococcus haemolyticus UTAR-CoNS26. The genome of S. cohnnii UTAR-CoNS6 harboured the mecA methicillin-resistance gene on a Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) element similar to SCCmec type XIV (5 A) but the SCCmec cassettes identified in the other three CoNS genomes were novel and untypeable. Some of these SCCmec elements also encoded heavy metal resistance genes while the SCCmec type XIV (5 A) variant in S. cohnii UTAR-CoNS6 harboured the complete ica operon, a known virulence factor that functions in biofilm formation. In S. cohnii UTAR-CoNS6, the macrolide resistance genes msrA and mphC along with copper and cadmium resistance genes were located on a 26,630 bp plasmid, pUCNS6. This study showcased the diversity of CoNS in the nasal microbiota of medical students but the discovery of novel SCCmec elements, various antimicrobial and heavy metal resistance along with virulence genes in these isolates is of concern and warrants vigilance due to the likelihood of spread, especially to hospitalised patients.