title: A novel multiplex PCR for molecular characterization of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus recovered from Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Molecular characterization of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is very essential for studying the epidemiology of MRSA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study reports two multiplex PCR for molecular typing of MRSA collected from Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 101 clinical isolates of strains were collected from major hospital laboratories and public health centres, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period from August 2009 to May 2011. All the strains were tested phenotypically by conventional methods and genotypically by a novel multiplex PCR targeting at the same time S. aureus 16S rRNA, Panton - valentine leucocidin (PVL) and mecA resistance genes. All the strains were tested also by multiplex PCR for typing of SCC mec types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the 101 strains previously identified phenotypically as S. aureus with bacteriological examination were positive for amplification of 756 base pair fragments specific for 16S rRNA of S. aureus. Moreover, all the strains were positive for amplification of 1339 base pair fragments specific for mecA gene, while only 38 strains (37.6%) showed positive amplification of 433 base pair fragments specific for PVL gene. The most predominant SCC mec type among the examined isolates is type V 43 (42.5) followed by SCCmec type III 39 (38.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The newly modified multiplex PCR is rapid and sensitive method for detection of MRSA. Moreover, the most predominant SCC mec type among the examined isolates from Jeddah, King Saudi Arabia is type V (42.5%), followed by Type III (38.6%).
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Biotechnology Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Imi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kabli
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hemeg
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Al-Garni
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Shibl
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000235:genetics; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods*; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010641:Phenotype; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus