Sequencing of bovine-adapted Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is among the major pathogens causing mastitis in dairy cows. A number of prominent genetic lineages are responsible for the majority of cases. In this study the genomes of bovine-adapted strains of S. aureus were sequenced. These strains were isolated from cases of clinical mastitis in Ireland and comprised the lineages CC71, CC97, ST136 and CC151. The strains were also characterised in vitro for a range of virulence traits such as ability to induce a pro-inflammatory immune response in bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMEC), propensity to invade bMEC and their survival during incubation with bovine leukocytes.