Open AccessEvolutionary GEM: The Evolution of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Author(s) -
Jaiden Tu,
Patricia Gray
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
wurj health and natural sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1923-757X
DOI - 10.5206/wurjhns.2017-18.22
Subject(s) - sccmec , staphylococcus aureus , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , horizontal gene transfer , antibiotics , pandemic , biology , locus (genetics) , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , covid-19 , genetics , medicine , bacteria , infectious disease (medical specialty) , genome , disease , pathology
Since 1961, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has evolved through both single locus gene variation and horizontal gene transfer. By the late 1970s, the emergence of new SCCmec allotypes marked the beginning of a worldwide MRSA pandemic. The continuous and rapid evolution of MRSA, in response to new antibiotics, remains a major public health issue worldwide.