title: Accessory gene regulator (agr) dysfunction in Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream isolates from South Korean patients.
abstract: We describe the genetic and microbiological characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream isolates with agr dysfunction from a tertiary-care hospital in Korea. Of these, ST5-SCCmec type II-agr group II MRSA isolates, which are known to be prevalent in hospital-acquired infections in Korea, were the most abundant, because of the clonal spread of a specific agr-defective lineage. This finding suggests that the loss of agr function may confer a potential advantage in a hospital setting. Clonal spread of a specific defective-agr strain was not observed among community-associated MRSA or methicillin-susceptible S. aureus clones, regardless of community or hospital acquisition of infection. agr-defective clones, including ST5 and ST239 MRSA, were enriched for heteroresistant vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Pil
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Eun Sil
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Su-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ki-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Tark
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi-Na
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Oh
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jun Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Jin-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Yang Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002999:Clone Cells; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009154:Mutation; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C095698:Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014640:Vancomycin; D008712:Methicillin