MRSA Superbug Driven by a Gene

A gene points to the achilles heel in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), say researchers.

So-called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major worry for hospitals because of its ability to hole up in wounds, tubes and surgical devices, infecting patients whose immune system is already weak.

MRSA “Super bug” – Symptoms - Risk Factors – Diagnosis - Treatment
MRSA infection is the most dreaded hospital or community acquired infection that can become life-threatening.

MRSA outbreaks happen in waves as new strains of the bacterium take over from older configurations.

But how these epidemics become established is a process that genetically has until now been unclear.

Reporting in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers in the United States and China say they found the key gene, sasX, in samples taken from 807 patients who had been treated for S. aureus in three Chinese hospitals over the past 10 years.

Drug Resistance – Antibiotic or Antimicrobial Resistance
Drug resistance is often a problem in malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and hospital acquired diseases. Judicious use of antibiotics can control the problem.

Once extremely rare, sasX became more and more common, nearly doubling in frequency from 21 percent of samples in 2003 to 39 percent in 2011, they found.

At present, sasX is prominent in Asian strains of MRSA that have been detected, but it is likely to spread beyond the region, according to the report.

Research Reveals Antibiotic to Combat Deadly Superbug C.diff
Researchers have revealed that a new antibiotic that combats deadly superbug C.diff could save thousands of lives when it is made available on the NHS

The gene is located in a so-called mobile genetic element, meaning that it is in a segment of DNA that can easily transfer from an old strain to a new one.

However, sasX "is a promising target" for drugs or vaccines, says the study, led by Michael Otto of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Novel Superbug Targets Healthy and Young in the US
A new, dangerous superbug targets the young and healthy in the US, say scientists.

Source-AFP