Arginine catabolic mobile element explained

The arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) is a mobile genetic element of Staphylococcus bacterial species. This genetic element provides for several immune modulating functions, including resistance to polyamines which serve as a non-specific immune response both on intact skin and following the inflammatory response in wound healing.^{[1] [2]} Diverse ACME are present in several species of Staphylococcus, including Staphylococcus epidermidis.^{[3] [4]}

Association with virulent MRSA

ACME are not common among antibiotic sensitive S. aureus (MSSA).^[5] The elements for the most prominent MRSA ACME appear to have assembled recently in S. epidermidis into the speG-positive ACME which was transferred to virulent S. aureus during the evolution of the epidemic USA300 MRSA strain.^{[6] [7]} This broadened the ability of S. aureus to colonize sites beyond the nose.^[8] This strain is able to persist on intact skin and is spread rapidly person-to-person. As a result, the speG-positive ACME is a particularly important element of MRSA pathogenesis.

See also

• Mobile genetic elements

Notes and References

1. Otto. Michael. Community-associated MRSA: What makes them special?. International Journal of Medical Microbiology. August 2013. 303. 6–7. 324–330. 10.1016/j.ijmm.2013.02.007 . 23517691 . 3729626.
2. Joshi. Gauri S.. Spontak, Jeffrey S.. Klapper, David G.. Richardson, Anthony R.. Arginine catabolic mobile element encoded speG abrogates the unique hypersensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus to exogenous polyamines. Molecular Microbiology. October 2011. 82. 1. 9–20. 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07809.x . 21902734 . 3183340.
3. Barbier, F. . Lebeaux, D. . Hernandez, D. . Delannoy, A.-S. . Caro, V. . Francois, P. . Schrenzel, J. . Ruppe, E. . Gaillard, K. . Wolff, M. . Brisse, S. . Andremont, A. . Ruimy, R. . High prevalence of the arginine catabolic mobile element in carriage isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 9 November 2010. 66. 1. 29–36. 10.1093/jac/dkq410 . 21062794 . free .
4. Miragaia, Maria . de Lencastre, Herminia . Perdreau-Remington, Francoise . Chambers, Henry F. . Higashi, Julie . Sullam, Paul M. . Lin, Jessica . Wong, Kester I. . King, Katherine A. . Otto, Michael . Sensabaugh, George F. . Diep, Binh An . DeLeo, Frank R. . Genetic Diversity of Arginine Catabolic Mobile Element in Staphylococcus epidermidis. PLOS ONE. 6 November 2009. 4. 11. e7722. 10.1371/journal.pone.0007722 . 19893740 . 2768820 . 2009PLoSO...4.7722M . free .
5. Goering. R. V.. McDougal, L. K.. Fosheim, G. E.. Bonnstetter, K. K.. Wolter, D. J.. Tenover, F. C.. Epidemiologic Distribution of the Arginine Catabolic Mobile Element among Selected Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Isolates. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 4 April 2007. 45. 6. 1981–1984. 10.1128/JCM.00273-07 . 17409207 . 1933090 .
6. Planet, P. J. . LaRussa, S. J. . Dana, A. . Smith, H. . Xu, A. . Ryan, C. . Uhlemann, A.-C. . Boundy, S. . Goldberg, J. . Narechania, A. . Kulkarni, R. . Ratner, A. J. . Geoghegan, J. A. . Kolokotronis, S.-O. . Prince, A. . Emergence of the Epidemic Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strain USA300 Coincides with Horizontal Transfer of the Arginine Catabolic Mobile Element and speG-mediated Adaptations for Survival on Skin. mBio. 17 December 2013. 4. 6. e00889-13–e00889-13. 10.1128/mBio.00889-13 . 24345744 . 3870260 .
7. Diep, Binh An . Stone, Gregory G. . Basuino, Li . Graber, Christopher J. . Miller, Alita . Etages, Shelley‐Ann des . Jones, Alison . Palazzolo‐Ballance, Amy M. . Perdreau‐Remington, Françoise . Sensabaugh, George F. . DeLeo, Frank R. . Chambers, Henry F. . The Arginine Catabolic Mobile Element and Staphylococcal Chromosomal Cassette Linkage: Convergence of Virulence and Resistance in the USA300 Clone of Methicillin‐Resistant. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. June 2008. 197. 11. 1523–1530. 10.1086/587907 . 18700257 . free .
8. Yan. Miling. Pamp, Sünje J.. Fukuyama, Julia. Hwang, Peter H.. Cho, Do-Yeon. Holmes, Susan. Relman, David A.. Nasal Microenvironments and Interspecific Interactions Influence Nasal Microbiota Complexity and S. aureus Carriage. Cell Host & Microbe. December 2013. 14. 6. 631–640. 10.1016/j.chom.2013.11.005 . 24331461 . 3902146 .