Molecular Evolution and Pathogenicity of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Dear Colleagues,

Staphylococcus aureus is a gram positive and coagulase positive pathogen, belonging to the family of Staphylococcaceae. It has the capability to acquire resistance to most antibiotics and to collect virulence factors. This ability is further augmented by its constant emergence of new clones. Historically, penicillin-resistant S. aureus emerged in 1942 within two years of introduction of penicillin. Semi-synthetic antibiotic, methicillin, was then developed to substitute for the treament of penicillin-resistant S. aureus. However, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was clinically identified in 1960 shortly after its introduction in 1959. Thereafter, the worldwide outbreaks of MRSA occur in waves. The dissemination of MRSA is marked by the propagation of a number of clones harboring specific genetic backgrounds in different continents. Although most MRSA strains are hospital-acquired originally, community-associated strains (CA-MRSA) are now been increasingly recognised worldwide and are both phenotypically and genotypically different from hospital-associated (HA)-MRSA. The importance of Livestock-associated (LA)-MRSA has also been frequently reported sine the mid of 2000s. Infections due to MRSA, in particular CA-MRSA and LA-MRSA, are associated with more severity and higher mortality rate, compared to infections caused by methicillin-susceptible strains. This Special Issue seeks manuscript submissions in the latest advances in molecular evolution, epidemiology, characterization and pathogenicity of MRSA, as well as, its emerging trends in antibiotic resistance and control.

Prof. Kunyan Zhang
Guest Editor

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