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Emerging Microbes & Infections Volume 12, 2023 - Issue 1
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Antimicrobial Agents

Phylogenetic analysis and virulence characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST764-SCCmec II: an emerging hypervirulent clone ST764-t1084 in China

Yanghua Xiaoa Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China;b School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Weihua Hana Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Bingjie Wanga Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Yanlei Xua Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Huilin Zhaoa Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Xinyi Wanga Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Lulin Raoc Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Jiao Zhangc Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Li Shena Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Hui Zhoud Department of Bioinformatics, Hugobiotech, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Long Hud Department of Bioinformatics, Hugobiotech, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Junhong Shia Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Jingyi Yua Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Yinjuan Guoa Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaView further author information
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Han Xiad Department of Bioinformatics, Hugobiotech, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence[email protected]
View further author information
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Fangyou Yua Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence[email protected]
View further author information
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Article: 2165969 | Received 17 Nov 2022, Accepted 04 Jan 2023, Published online: 20 Jan 2023
 
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ABSTRACT

Previous studies have shown that the increased prevalent ST764 clone in China, Japan, and other Asian areas. However, the knowledge of the genetic features and virulence characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST764 in China is still limited. In this study, we identified 52 ST764-SCCmec type II isolates collected from five cities in China between 2014 and 2021. Whole genome sequencing showed that the most common staphylococcal protein A (spa) types of ST764 in China were t002 (55.78%) and t1084 (40.38%). Virulence assays showed that ST764-t1084 isolates had high haemolytic activity and α-toxin levels. Of the critical regulatory factors affecting α-toxin production, only the SaeRS was highly expressed in ST764-t1084 isolates. Mouse abscess model indicated that the virulence of ST764-t1084 isolates was comparable to that of S. aureus USA300-LAC famous for its hypervirulence. Interestingly, ST764-t002 isolates exhibited stronger biofilm formation and cell adhesion capacities than ST764-t1084 isolates. This seems to explain why ST764-t002 subclone has become more prevalent in China in recent years. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that all ST764 isolates from China in Clade III were closely related to KUN1163 (an isolate from Japan). Notably, genomic analysis revealed that the 52 ST764 isolates did not carry arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME), which differed from ST764 isolates in Japan. Additionally, most ST764 isolates (69.23%) harboured an obvious deletion of approximately 5 kb in the SCCmec II cassette region compared to KUN1163. Our findings shed light on the potential global transmission and genotypic as well as phenotypic characteristics of ST764 lineage.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the staff members at our institution.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Fund of China [grant number 82272394].
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