AUTHOR=Wu Shi , Pang Rui , Huang Jiahui , Zhang Feng , Cai Zhihe , Zhang Jumei , Chen Moutong , Xue Liang , Gu Qihui , Wang Juan , Ding Yu , Wan Qiang , Wu Qingping 

TITLE=Evolutionary Divergence of the Novel Staphylococcal Species Staphylococcus argenteus

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.769642

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.769642

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Currently, invasive infections caused by <italic>Staphylococcus argenteus</italic>, which is a recently named staphylococcal species, are increasingly reported worldwide. However, only a few genomic studies of <italic>S</italic>. <italic>argenteus</italic> have offered comprehensive information regarding its genetic diversity, epidemiological characteristics, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), virulence genes and other profiles. Here, we describe a comparative genomic analysis by population structure, pangenome, panmobilome, region-specific accessory genes confer an adaptive advantage in 153 <italic>S</italic>. <italic>argenteus</italic> strains which comprised 24 strains sequenced in this study and 129 strains whose genome sequences were available from GenBank. As a result, the population of <italic>S</italic>. <italic>argenteus</italic> comprised seven genetically distinct clades, including two major clades (C1 and C2), with distinct isolation source patterns. Pangenome analysis revealed that <italic>S</italic>. <italic>argenteus</italic> has an open pangenome composed of 7,319 genes and a core genome composed of 1,508 genes. We further determined the distributions of 75 virulence factors (VFs) and 30 known ARGs and identified at least four types of plasmids and 93 complete or partial putative prophages. It indicate that <italic>S</italic>. <italic>argenteus</italic> may show a similar level of pathogenicity to that of <italic>S</italic>. <italic>aureus</italic>. This study also provides insights into the evolutionary divergence of this pathogen, indicating that the geographical distribution was a potential driving force behind the evolutionary divergence of <italic>S</italic>. <italic>argenteus</italic>. The preferential horizontal acquisition of particular elements, such as staphylococcal cassette chromosome <italic>mec</italic> elements and plasmids, was observed in specific regions, revealing potential gene exchange between <italic>S</italic>. <italic>argenteus</italic> strains and local <italic>S</italic>. <italic>aureus</italic> strains. Moreover, multiple specific genes related to environmental adaptation were identified in strains isolated from East Asia. However, these findings may help promote our understanding of the evolutionary divergence of this bacterium at a high genetic resolution by providing insights into the epidemiology of <italic>S</italic>. <italic>argenteus</italic> and may help combat its spread.</p>