title: Global distribution and evolution of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, 1981-2007.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MSSA and MRSA, respectively) are both associated with severe infections, such as necrotizing pneumonia. The epidemiological profile of PVL-positive community-acquired (CA) MRSA has been extensively studied, but few corresponding data on PVL-positive MSSA are available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of the study were to investigate the global population structure of PVL-positive MSSA, to compare it with that reported for CA-MRSA, and thus to examine the phylogenetic relationship between these pathogens.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the agr types, multilocus sequence types, and toxin gene profiles of 211 PVL-positive MSSA clinical isolates collected in 19 countries throughout the world between 1981 and 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The predominant lineages of PVL-positive MSSA were agr3/ST30, agr4/ST121, agr3/ST1, agr2/ST5, and agr3/ST80. Except for agr4/ST121, these lineages are also reported to be prevalent among CA-MRSA. PVL-positive MSSA lineages that are genetically related to CA-MRSA have gradually replaced other lineages (especially agr4/ST121) over the past 2 decades. Within a given sequence type, the toxin gene content of PVL-positive MSSA strains was very similar to that of PVL-positive CA-MRSA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The molecular epidemiological profiles of PVL-positive MSSA and CA-MRSA are dynamically interrelated, with the former appearing to constitute a reservoir for the latter.
authors.affiliation: Université Lyon 1, Centre National de Référence des Staphylocoques, and Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U851, Institut Fédératif de Recherche 128, Lyon, France. jean-philippe.rasigade@chu-lyon.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rasigade
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lina
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meugnier
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bes
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vandenesch
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Etienne
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tristan
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000235:genetics*; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin; D008712:Methicillin