Evolution of MRSA during hospital transmission and intercontinental spread.
Current methods for differentiating isolates of predominant lineages of pathogenic bacteria often do not provide sufficient resolution to define precise relationships. Here, we describe a high-throughput genomics approach that provides a high-resolution view of the epidemiology and microevolution of a dominant strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This approach reveals the global geographic structure within the lineage, its intercontinental transmission through four decades, and the potential to trace person-to-person transmission within a hospital environment. The ability to interrogate and resolve bacterial populations is applicable to a range of infectious diseases, as well as microbial ecology.
Harris
Simon R
SR
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 15A, UK.
Feil
Edward J
EJ
Holden
Matthew T G
MT
Quail
Michael A
MA
Nickerson
Emma K
EK
Chantratita
Narisara
N
Gardete
Susana
S
Tavares
Ana
A
Day
Nick
N
Lindsay
Jodi A
JA
Edgeworth
Jonathan D
JD
de Lencastre
Hermínia
H
Parkhill
Julian
J
Peacock
Sharon J
SJ
Bentley
Stephen D
SD
D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology