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Genomic Comparison of Highly Virulent, Moderately Virulent, and Avirulent Strains From a Genetically Closely-Related MRSA ST239 Sub-lineage Provides Insights Into Pathogenesis

Overview of attention for article published in Frontiers in Microbiology, July 2018
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Title
Genomic Comparison of Highly Virulent, Moderately Virulent, and Avirulent Strains From a Genetically Closely-Related MRSA ST239 Sub-lineage Provides Insights Into Pathogenesis
Published in
Frontiers in Microbiology, July 2018
DOI 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01531
Pubmed ID
Authors

Jo-Ann M. McClure, Sahreena Lakhundi, Ayesha Kashif, John M. Conly, Kunyan Zhang

Abstract

The genomic comparison of virulent (TW20), moderately virulent (CMRSA6/CMRSA3), and avirulent (M92) strains from a genetically closely-related MRSA ST239 sub-lineage revealed striking similarities in their genomes and antibiotic resistance profiles, despite differences in virulence and pathogenicity. The main differences were in the spa gene (coding for staphylococcal protein A), lpl genes (coding for lipoprotein-like membrane proteins), cta genes (genes involved in heme synthesis), and the dfrG gene (coding for a trimethoprim-resistant dihydrofolate reductase), as well as variations in the presence or content of some prophages and plasmids, which could explain the virulence differences of these strains. TW20 was positive for all genetic traits tested, compared to CMRSA6, CMRSA3, and M92. The major components differing among these strains included spa and lpl with TW20 carrying both whereas CMRSA6/CMRSA3 carry spa identical to TW20 but have a disrupted lpl. M92 is devoid of both these traits. Considering the role played by these components in innate immunity and virulence, it is predicted that since TW20 has both the components intact and functional, these traits contribute to its pathogenesis. However, CMRSA6/CMRSA3 are missing one of these components, hence their intermediately virulent nature. On the contrary, M92 is completely devoid of both the spa and lpl genes and is avirulent. Mobile genetic elements play a potential role in virulence. TW20 carries three prophages (ϕSa6, ϕSa3, and ϕSPβ-like), a pathogenicity island and two plasmids. CMRSA6, CMRSA3, and M92 contain variations in one or more of these components. The virulence associated genes in these components include staphylokinase, entertoxins, antibiotic/antiseptic/heavy metal resistance and bacterial persistence. Additionally, there are many hypothetical proteins (present with variations among strains) with unknown function in these mobile elements which could be making an important contribution in the virulence of these strains. The above mentioned repertoire of virulence components in TW20 likely contributes to its increased virulence, while the absence and/or modification of one or more of these components in CMRSA6/CMRSA3 and M92 likely affects the virulence of the strains.

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Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 32 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 32 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Master 6 19%
Student > Doctoral Student 4 13%
Researcher 4 13%
Student > Ph. D. Student 3 9%
Student > Bachelor 2 6%
Other 4 13%
Unknown 9 28%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Immunology and Microbiology 6 19%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 6 19%
Engineering 3 9%
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 2 6%
Environmental Science 1 3%
Other 4 13%
Unknown 10 31%
Attention Score in Context

Attention Score in Context

This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 1. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 10 July 2018.
All research outputs
#23,504,487
of 26,184,649 outputs
Outputs from Frontiers in Microbiology
#24,925
of 30,127 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#300,908
of 342,449 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Frontiers in Microbiology
#640
of 744 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 26,184,649 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 1st percentile – i.e., 1% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 30,127 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 6.4. This one is in the 1st percentile – i.e., 1% of its peers scored the same or lower than it.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 342,449 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one is in the 1st percentile – i.e., 1% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
We're also able to compare this research output to 744 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 1st percentile – i.e., 1% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.