Whole-genome sequencing of Staphylococcus aureus strain RN4220, a key laboratory strain used in virulence research, identifies mutations that affect not only virulence factors but also the fitness of the strain

Dhanalakshmi Nair; Guido Memmi; David Hernandez; Jonathan Bard; Marie Beaume; Steven Gill; Patrice Francois; Ambrose L Cheung

doi:10.1128/JB.00027-11

Whole-genome sequencing of Staphylococcus aureus strain RN4220, a key laboratory strain used in virulence research, identifies mutations that affect not only virulence factors but also the fitness of the strain

J Bacteriol. 2011 May;193(9):2332-5. doi: 10.1128/JB.00027-11. Epub 2011 Mar 4.

Authors

Dhanalakshmi Nair¹, Guido Memmi, David Hernandez, Jonathan Bard, Marie Beaume, Steven Gill, Patrice Francois, Ambrose L Cheung

Affiliation

¹ Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus RN4220, a cloning intermediate, is sometimes used in virulence, resistance, and metabolic studies. Using whole-genome sequencing, we showed that RN4220 differs from NCTC8325 and contains a number of genetic polymorphisms that affect both virulence and general fitness, implying a need for caution in using this strain for such studies.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Chromosome Mapping
Chromosomes, Bacterial
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology
Genetic Fitness*
Genome, Bacterial*
Mutation
Staphylococcus aureus / classification*
Staphylococcus aureus / genetics*
Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity
Stress, Physiological
Virulence
Virulence Factors / genetics*
Virulence Factors / metabolism*

Substances

Virulence Factors

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding