Variant of Classical EMRSA-15 from India. Staphylococcus aureus

Epidemic methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus 15 (E MRSA-15) belongs to sequence type (ST) 22 and clonal complex (CC) 22. It originated in England as a highly pathogenic strain and has been responsible for hospital and community associated infections. It has now spread to many parts of the world and is one of the most prevalent types in Indian hospitals and community. We have characterized Indian ST22 isolates from patients with various diseases and found that the Indian isolates contain Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) and have variant PFGE patterns from that of classical E MRSA-15. M37 is isolated from a skin wound in the neck of a diabetes patient which was easily cured with administration of an antibiotic. We have done whole genome sequencing of M37 and some functional studies of its toxins with the objective of studying differences between classical E MRSA-15 and the Indian variants.