Whole Genome Sequencing of a Clinical Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Terengganu Led to the Discovery of a Novel 58.4 kb Conjugative Plasmid

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been listed by the World Health Organization as a priority antibiotic-resistant nosocomial pathogen in urgent need of new antimicrobials [1]. Plasmids are key factor pathology and epidemiology MRSA isolates play important roles their evolution. In our on-going efforts to better understand genetic background molecular from Terengganu, Malaysia, whole genome sequencing using Illumina HiSeq platform (HiSeq-PE150) was performed on 31 selection clinical obtained main tertiary hospital, Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ). One these isolates, designated S. SauR23, isolated pus 2016 resistant seven classes thus categorized multidrug (MDR). Analysis sequence SauR23 showed it belonged ST22 clone with SCCmec class IV(2B) harbored blaZ, mecA, norA, lmrS, mepR ermC resistance genes, which corresponded its MDR phenotype. Besides norA-encoded efflux pump, fluoroquinolone could also be due S84L point mutation gyrA-encoded DNA gyrase. found carry three plasmids, pSauR23-1 (58,422 bp), pSauR23-2 (3,011 pSauR23-3 (2,473 bp). The smallest plasmid, RepL-family plasmid that encoded gene likely responsible for inducible macrolide-lincosamide-streptogrammin B (iMLSB) phenotype exhibited host strain. Plasmid Rep_1 family small cryptic plasmid. On other hand, is novel, potentially conjugative contains replicase RepA_N domain (repUS20) shared low identity (34%) pWBG749, known staphylococcal putative region differed transfer system pWBG749 well systems database. Nevertheless, genes contained conserved motifs MobL relaxase, TraG/TraD-like protein, type VI secretion ATPase were detected within this