Gene sequences included in the study.zip

<i>Staphylococcus argenteus </i>is a novel species within the <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> complex and can cause serious bloodstream infections (BSIs) in humans, which have been mainly reported in adults, especially the elderly. In this study, we analyzed the molecular characterization of a strain of <i>S. argenteus</i> isolated from the peripheral vein blood sample of a seven-month-old female infant in Eastern China. We also compared the molecular characterization of <i>S. argenteus</i> from different sources worldwide. The <i>S. argenteus</i> isolates from the infant belonged to sequence type (ST)2250 and harbored 6 antibiotic-resistance genes and 53 virulence genes and was resistant to penicillin. Comparative analysis of genome sequences of <i>S. argenteus</i> worldwide found that ST2250 was more prevalent among strains of human origin, whereas ST5961 and ST1223 were more prevalent among strains of nonhuman origin. Antibiotic-resistance genes <i>blaR1</i>, <i>blaI_of_Z</i>, <i>blaZ</i>, <i>fosB-Saur</i>, <i>tet(L)</i>, <i>aph(3')-IIIa</i>, <i>mecA</i>, and <i>dfrG</i> were more prevalent among the strains of human origin. Virulence genes <i>lukF-PV</i>, <i>sak</i>, <i>sdrE</i>, <i>scn</i>, <i>sdrC</i>, and <i>sdrD</i> were more prevalent among strains of human origin, whereas virulence genes <i>seb</i>, <i>vWbp</i>, <i>clfB</i>, <i>esaC</i>, <i>essC</i>, and <i>esxB</i> were more prevalent among the strains of nonhuman origin. The ST, antibiotic-resistance genes and virulence genes not exhibited a large difference between blood isolates and other human specimen isolates. In conclusion, <i>S. argenteus</i> ST2250 can cause serious BSIs in infants. <i>S. argenteus</i> of human origin has significant differences in ST and in antibiotic resistance and virulence genes from strains of nonhuman origin.