title: Analysis of the prototypical Staphylococcus aureus multiresistance plasmid pSK1.
abstract: The Staphylococcus aureus multiresistance plasmid pSK1 is the prototype of a family of structurally related plasmids that were first identified in epidemic S. aureus strains isolated in Australia during the 1980s and subsequently in Europe. Here we present the complete 28.15kb nucleotide sequence of pSK1 and discuss the genetic content and evolution of the 14kb region that is conserved throughout the pSK1 plasmid family. In addition to the previously characterized plasmid maintenance functions, this backbone region encodes 12 putative gene products, including a lipoprotein, teichoic acid translocation permease, cell wall anchored surface protein and an Fst-like toxin as part of a Type I toxin-antitoxin system. Furthermore, transcriptional profiling has revealed that plasmid carriage most likely has a minimal impact on the host, a factor that may contribute to the ability of pSK1 family plasmids to carry multiple resistance determinants.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Slade O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Sumalee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apisiridej
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.forename: Yee Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Skurray
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Firth
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011815:R Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000235:genetics*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA