Characteristics of population structure, antimicrobial resistance, virulence factors, and morphology of methicillin-resistant Macrococcus caseolyticus in global clades

Abstract

Highlights • The global lineage of M. caseolyticus strains were divided into four clades from A to D. • MLST typing revealed novel alleles in M. caseolyticus strains isolated in China. • Global clades carried significantly less AMR genes and more virulence factors than present isolates. • As the close relative of the genus Staphylococcus , Macrococcus caseolyticus has a larger diameter and thicker cell wall compared with S.aureus ATCC 25923. • Macrococcus caseolyticus may serve as a vector for methicillin resistance habitats in foodborne microorganisms.

Keywords

• Macrococcus caseolyticus
• Retail meat
• MLST type
• Antibiotic resistance
• Virulence genes