title: Molecular characteristics of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains for clinical medicine.
abstract: Infections caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains are mainly associated with a hospital setting. However, nowadays, the MRSA infections of non-hospitalized patients are observed more frequently. In order to distinguish them from hospital-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (HA-MRSA) strains, given them the name of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA). CA-MRSA strains most commonly cause skin infections, but may lead to more severe diseases, and consequently the patient's death. The molecular markers of CA-MRSA strains are the presence of accessory gene regulator (agr) of group I or III, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IV, V or VII and genes encoding for Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). In addition, CA-MRSA strains show resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. Studies on the genetic elements of CA-MRSA strains have a key role in the unambiguous identification of strains, monitoring of infections, improving the treatment, work on new antimicrobial agents and understanding the evolution of these pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics, Department of Biotechnology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nastaly
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grinholc
authors.forename: Krzysztof P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Bielawski
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D006801:Humans; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000235:genetics; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007956:Leukocidins