Copresence of tet(K) and tet(M) in Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clonal Complex 398 Is Associated with Increased Fitness during Exposure to Sublethal Concentrations of Tetracycline

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2016 Jun 20;60(7):4401-3. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00426-16. Print 2016 Jul.

Abstract

The tetracycline resistance gene tet(K) was shown to be integrated within the predominant staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) element of Danish livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC398 (LA-MRSA CC398). These LA-MRSA CC398 isolates already possessed tet(M), but the acquisition of tet(K) significantly improved their fitness at sublethal concentrations of tetracycline. Because tet(K) is genetically linked to SCCmec, the use of tetracycline in food animals may have contributed to the successful spread of LA-MRSA CC398.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Genotype
  • Livestock / microbiology*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / genetics
  • Staphylococcal Infections / metabolism*
  • Tetracycline / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Tetracycline