Whole genome sequencing and pan-genome analysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP)

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an important bacterial pathogen responsible for a wide range of infections in dogs and cats. It is the leading cause of skin (pyoderma), ear and post-operative wound infections in dogs. However, increasing numbers of zoonotic human infection cases, mostly in dog owners, are also being reported. Like methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), S. pseudintermedius has acquired resistance to most of the antibiotics available in veterinary medicine. Hyper-virulent and multi-drug resistant (MDR) clones have emerged globally. This project is aimed at characterizing the genomes of S. pseudintermedius isolates to identify the genetic factors that may have a role in resistance, virulence and clonal expansion of the major MDR S. pseudintermedius clones.