Work

CRISPR-Cas–associated SCC mec Variants in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Evade Rapid Diagnostic Detection

Year: 2025

Type: article

Study design: Observational Study

Abstract: Rapid molecular assays guiding treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus detect SCCmec (Xpert) or the SCCmec-orfX junction (BCID2). Sequence variation in this region can disrupt primer binding, yielding false-negative results. Investigation of a missed bloodstream infection linked escape to a CRISPR-Cas-associated SCCmec variant, leading to identification of 64 variants from 45 patients-2% of 2432 screened. Misdiagnosis was restricted to clonal complex 5, a hospital-associated lineage; 11 of 40 SCCmec/junctions evaded detection by BCID2 or Xpert. Variants had mecA instability and circulated in healthcare settings. Our findings reveal a unique escape mechanism and underscore a threat to diagnostic accuracy.

Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases

DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaf575

Authors: Magdalena Podkowik, Alice Tillman, Courtney Takats, Heloise Carion, Gregory Putzel, Julian McWilliams, Benjamin See, Guiqing Wang, Sigridh Munoz-Gomez, Caitlin Otto, Karl Drlica, Luciano Marraffini, Alejandro Pironti, Sarah Hochman, Christopher Kerantzas, Bo Shopsin

Institutions: NYU Langone Health, New York University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Rockefeller University, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Language: English

Topic: Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,763

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Caisse des dépôts et consignations

Awards: Role of precipitous virulence in invasiveness of community-acquired methicillin-r, G3914713465, Mechanisms of MRSA intestinal colonization, Host-pathogen interactions during hospital adaptation of MRSA, G9000212822, G9000271135, Immunohematology/Transfusion Medicine Research Training

OpenAlex ID: W4416383210

FWCI: 0.704

Cites: 15

Cited by: 1

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