Genomic analysis of ST88 community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Ghana
Grace Kpeli,
Andrew H. Buultjens,
Stefano Giulieri,
Evelyn Owusu-Mireku,
Samuel Y. Aboagye,
Sarah L. Baines,
Torsten Seemann,
Dieter Bulach,
Anders Gonçalves da Silva,
Ian R. Monk,
Benjamin P. Howden,
Gerd Pluschke,
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu,
Timothy Stinear
Affiliations
Grace Kpeli
Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Andrew H. Buultjens
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Stefano Giulieri
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Evelyn Owusu-Mireku
Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Samuel Y. Aboagye
Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Sarah L. Baines
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Torsten Seemann
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Dieter Bulach
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Anders Gonçalves da Silva
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Ian R. Monk
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Benjamin P. Howden
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Gerd Pluschke
Department of Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Timothy Stinear
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Background The emergence and evolution of community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) strains in Africa is poorly understood. However, one particular MRSA lineage called ST88, appears to be rapidly establishing itself as an “African” CA-MRSA clone. In this study, we employed whole genome sequencing to provide more information on the genetic background of ST88 CA-MRSA isolates from Ghana and to describe in detail ST88 CA-MRSA isolates in comparison with other MRSA lineages worldwide. Methods We first established a complete ST88 reference genome (AUS0325) using PacBio SMRT sequencing. We then used comparative genomics to assess relatedness among 17 ST88 CA-MRSA isolates recovered from patients attending Buruli ulcer treatment centres in Ghana, three non-African ST88s and 15 other MRSA lineages. Results We show that Ghanaian ST88 forms a discrete MRSA lineage (harbouring SCCmec-IV [2B]). Gene content analysis identified five distinct genomic regions enriched among ST88 isolates compared with the other S. aureus lineages. The Ghanaian ST88 isolates had only 658 core genome SNPs and there was no correlation between phylogeny and geography, suggesting the recent spread of this clone. The lineage was also resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics including β-lactams, tetracycline and chloramphenicol. Discussion This study reveals that S. aureus ST88-IV is a recently emerging and rapidly spreading CA-MRSA clone in Ghana. The study highlights the capacity of small snapshot genomic studies to provide actionable public health information in resource limited settings. To our knowledge this is the first genomic assessment of the ST88 CA-MRSA clone.
