Virulence potential of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Buruli ulcer patients

Nana Ama Amissah; Monika A. Chlebowicz; Anthony Ablordey; Caitlin S. Tetteh; Isaac Prah; Tjip S. van der werf; Alex W. Friedrich; Jan Maarten van Dijl; Ymkje Stienstra; John W. Rossen

doi:10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.04.002

Virulence potential of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Buruli ulcer patients

Nana Ama Amissah, Monika A. Chlebowicz, Anthony Ablordey, Caitlin S. Tetteh, Isaac Prah, Tjip S. van der werf, Alex W. Friedrich, Jan Maarten van Dijl, Ymkje Stienstra, John W. Rossen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. BU wounds may also be colonized with other microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus. This study aimed to characterize the virulence factors of S. aureus isolated from BU patients. Previously sequenced genomes of 21 S. aureus isolates from BU patients were screened for the presence of virulence genes. The results show that all S. aureus isolates harbored on their core genomes genes for known virulence factors like α-hemolysin, and the α- and β-phenol soluble modulins. Besides the core genome virulence genes, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), i.e. prophages, genomic islands, pathogenicity islands and a Staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) were found to carry different combinations of virulence factors, among them genes that are known to encode factors that promote immune evasion, superantigens and Panton-Valentine Leucocidin. The present observations imply that the S. aureus isolates from BU patients harbor a diverse repertoire of virulence genes that may enhance bacterial survival and persistence in the wound environment and potentially contribute to delayed wound healing.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	223-232
Number of pages	10
Journal	International Journal of Medical Microbiology
Volume	307
Issue number	4-5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.04.002
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2017
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Buruli ulcer
Enterotoxins
Mobile genetic elements
Staphylococcus aureus
Virulence genes

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10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.04.002Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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@article{64e8ae221f0c4cf4a207d9e8c9d08db7,

title = "Virulence potential of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Buruli ulcer patients",

abstract = "Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. BU wounds may also be colonized with other microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus. This study aimed to characterize the virulence factors of S. aureus isolated from BU patients. Previously sequenced genomes of 21 S. aureus isolates from BU patients were screened for the presence of virulence genes. The results show that all S. aureus isolates harbored on their core genomes genes for known virulence factors like α-hemolysin, and the α- and β-phenol soluble modulins. Besides the core genome virulence genes, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), i.e. prophages, genomic islands, pathogenicity islands and a Staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) were found to carry different combinations of virulence factors, among them genes that are known to encode factors that promote immune evasion, superantigens and Panton-Valentine Leucocidin. The present observations imply that the S. aureus isolates from BU patients harbor a diverse repertoire of virulence genes that may enhance bacterial survival and persistence in the wound environment and potentially contribute to delayed wound healing.",

keywords = "Buruli ulcer, Enterotoxins, Mobile genetic elements, Staphylococcus aureus, Virulence genes",

author = "Amissah, \{Nana Ama\} and Chlebowicz, \{Monika A.\} and Anthony Ablordey and Tetteh, \{Caitlin S.\} and Isaac Prah and \{van der werf\}, \{Tjip S.\} and Friedrich, \{Alex W.\} and \{van Dijl\}, \{Jan Maarten\} and Ymkje Stienstra and Rossen, \{John W.\}",

year = "2017",

month = jun,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.04.002",

language = "English",

volume = "307",

pages = "223--232",

journal = "International Journal of Medical Microbiology",

issn = "1438-4221",

publisher = "Elsevier GmbH",

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}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Virulence potential of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Buruli ulcer patients

AU - Amissah, Nana Ama

AU - Chlebowicz, Monika A.

AU - Ablordey, Anthony

AU - Tetteh, Caitlin S.

AU - Prah, Isaac

AU - van der werf, Tjip S.

AU - Friedrich, Alex W.

AU - van Dijl, Jan Maarten

AU - Stienstra, Ymkje

AU - Rossen, John W.

PY - 2017/6/1

Y1 - 2017/6/1

N2 - Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. BU wounds may also be colonized with other microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus. This study aimed to characterize the virulence factors of S. aureus isolated from BU patients. Previously sequenced genomes of 21 S. aureus isolates from BU patients were screened for the presence of virulence genes. The results show that all S. aureus isolates harbored on their core genomes genes for known virulence factors like α-hemolysin, and the α- and β-phenol soluble modulins. Besides the core genome virulence genes, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), i.e. prophages, genomic islands, pathogenicity islands and a Staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) were found to carry different combinations of virulence factors, among them genes that are known to encode factors that promote immune evasion, superantigens and Panton-Valentine Leucocidin. The present observations imply that the S. aureus isolates from BU patients harbor a diverse repertoire of virulence genes that may enhance bacterial survival and persistence in the wound environment and potentially contribute to delayed wound healing.

AB - Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. BU wounds may also be colonized with other microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus. This study aimed to characterize the virulence factors of S. aureus isolated from BU patients. Previously sequenced genomes of 21 S. aureus isolates from BU patients were screened for the presence of virulence genes. The results show that all S. aureus isolates harbored on their core genomes genes for known virulence factors like α-hemolysin, and the α- and β-phenol soluble modulins. Besides the core genome virulence genes, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), i.e. prophages, genomic islands, pathogenicity islands and a Staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) were found to carry different combinations of virulence factors, among them genes that are known to encode factors that promote immune evasion, superantigens and Panton-Valentine Leucocidin. The present observations imply that the S. aureus isolates from BU patients harbor a diverse repertoire of virulence genes that may enhance bacterial survival and persistence in the wound environment and potentially contribute to delayed wound healing.

KW - Buruli ulcer

KW - Enterotoxins

KW - Mobile genetic elements

KW - Staphylococcus aureus

KW - Virulence genes

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.04.002

DO - 10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.04.002

M3 - Article

SN - 1438-4221

VL - 307

SP - 223

EP - 232

JO - International Journal of Medical Microbiology

JF - International Journal of Medical Microbiology

IS - 4-5

ER -

Virulence potential of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Buruli ulcer patients

Abstract

Keywords

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