New genetic factors identified in MRSA antibiotic resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, is a strain of bacteria that resists multiple antibiotics. This makes it difficult to treat. MRSA often causes skin and soft tissue infections but can also lead to severe illnesses like endocarditis, meningitis, and toxic shock syndrome. A recent study looked into genetic factors that contribute to this antibiotic resistance in MRSA. The researchers focused on two known resistance genes, mecA and mecC, but also discovered additional factors. They sequenced the DNA of 26 different MRSA isolates to study other resistance genes: mepR, mepA, mepB, and sapep. The findings showed that these isolates from both animals and humans had a cluster of genes linked to multidrug resistance. One key gene, mepR, plays a role in encoding a protein that helps in resisting multiple drugs. Another gene, sapep, appears to provide protection against certain biocides and types of antibiotics. This research is important for understanding how MRSA develops resistance. The study is titled "Genetic resistance factors and antimicrobial resistance phenotypes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates of animals and humans" and was published in the One Health Bulletin on January 23, 2025.