Large-scale evaluation of bacterial genome content for the identification of epidemiological and virulence basis in MRSA Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen responsible for a wide diversity of infections ranging from localized to life threatening diseases. Since 1961 and the worldwide emergence and spreading of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), this bacterium has shown particular capacity to survive and adapt to drastic environmental changes. Until recently, S. aureus was considered as the prototype of nosocomial pathogen but it has now clearly shown also responsible for outbreaks in the community. Several recent reports suggest that the epidemiology of MRSA is changing. The understanding of pathogenicity, virulence and emergence of epidemic clones within MRSA populations is not clearly defined, despite several attempts to identify common molecular features between strains sharing similar epidemiological and/or virulence behavior. These studies included pattern profiling of: i) bacterial adhesins, ii) clonal complex groups, iii) genotypes based on MLST determination, or iv) enterotoxins content. To date, all approaches failed unraveling correlation between molecular determinants and clinical outcomes.

Nephrology