Whole-genome sequencing and biofilm gene characterization in multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical strains

Staphylococcus aureus is known as a significant contributor to a variety of severe, life-threatening illnesses. Infectious diseases associated with biofilm-producing S. aureus can lead to a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to characterize the whole genomes of e...

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Main Authors: Emira Noumi, Tarek Zmantar, Nouha Bouali, Abdulrahman S. Bazaid, Khulood Fahad Alabbosh, Kamel Chaieb, Hisham N. Altayb, Vincenzo De Feo, Mejdi Snoussi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687157X25000654
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author Emira Noumi
Tarek Zmantar
Nouha Bouali
Abdulrahman S. Bazaid
Khulood Fahad Alabbosh
Kamel Chaieb
Hisham N. Altayb
Vincenzo De Feo
Mejdi Snoussi
author_facet Emira Noumi
Tarek Zmantar
Nouha Bouali
Abdulrahman S. Bazaid
Khulood Fahad Alabbosh
Kamel Chaieb
Hisham N. Altayb
Vincenzo De Feo
Mejdi Snoussi
author_sort Emira Noumi
collection DOAJ
description Staphylococcus aureus is known as a significant contributor to a variety of severe, life-threatening illnesses. Infectious diseases associated with biofilm-producing S. aureus can lead to a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to characterize the whole genomes of eight clinically multidrug-resistant S. aureus strains isolated from several types of human infections sites from Hail Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Biofilm production was evaluated using Congo-red agar plates (CRA), polystyrene microtiter plate technique (MtP), and adherence to human epithelial cells (Hep 2). Additionally, adhesion to abiotic surface (Polyethylene, glass, stainless steel) was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then whole genome sequencing was conducted for all strains to analyze the virulome, resistome and phylogenome using different bioinformatic tools.Our results revealed that all S. aureus strains were slime producer on CRA plates with pigmented colonies (black and nearly black morphotypes) and were also able to form biofilm on the surface of several materials with different degrees. All tested strains adhere to Hep2 cell lines with a percentage of infected cells ranging from 45.0 % ± 0.078 to 92.0 % ± 0.022, and a total number of S. aureus/100 cells varying from 5.11 ± 2.14 (Strain S22) to 20.25 ± 5.15 (Strain S14). These results were correlated with those obtained from genome annotation highlighting that all multidrug resistant and biofilm-producing S. aureus strains harbored four ica genes (icaA, icaB, icaC, icaD) and their regulator icaR), clumping factor A and B (clfA and clfB genes), fibronectin binding proteins (fnbA in all strains and fnbB in 87.5 % of tested strains), elastin binding protein (ebps gene), extracellular adherence protein (Eap), staphylococcal protein A (spa gene), and Ser-Asp rich fibrinogen-binding proteins (sdrC). Most of the studied strains contained six to ten genomic islands associated with virulence factors, phage proteins, transcriptional regulators, insertion sequences and antimicrobial resistance genes. The study reported the presence of key adhesion-related genes underscores the colonization potential and pathogenicity in our strains. Additionally, the identification of multiple genomic islands associated with virulence and antimicrobial resistance highlights the need for vigilant monitoring in clinical settings.
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spelling doaj-art-46de9cb44abf4a84baa75b345edc5a522025-08-24T05:11:45ZengElsevierJournal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology1687-157X2025-09-0123310052110.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100521Whole-genome sequencing and biofilm gene characterization in multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical strainsEmira Noumi0Tarek Zmantar1Nouha Bouali2Abdulrahman S. Bazaid3Khulood Fahad Alabbosh4Kamel Chaieb5Hisham N. Altayb6Vincenzo De Feo7Mejdi Snoussi8Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, P.O. Box 2440, Ha’il 2440, Saudi Arabia; Medical and Diagnostic Research Centre, University of Ha’il, Hail 55473, Saudi ArabiaLaboratory of Analysis, Treatment and Valorization of Pollutants of the Environmental and Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia; Corresponding author at: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, P.O. Box 2440, Ha’il 2440, Saudi Arabia; Medical and Diagnostic Research Centre, University of Ha’il, Hail 55473, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Hail 55476, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, P.O. Box 2440, Ha’il 2440, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Center of Artificial Intelligence in Precision Medicines, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Center of Artificial Intelligence in Precision Medicines, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author at: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, ItalyDepartment of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, P.O. Box 2440, Ha’il 2440, Saudi Arabia; Medical and Diagnostic Research Centre, University of Ha’il, Hail 55473, Saudi ArabiaStaphylococcus aureus is known as a significant contributor to a variety of severe, life-threatening illnesses. Infectious diseases associated with biofilm-producing S. aureus can lead to a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to characterize the whole genomes of eight clinically multidrug-resistant S. aureus strains isolated from several types of human infections sites from Hail Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Biofilm production was evaluated using Congo-red agar plates (CRA), polystyrene microtiter plate technique (MtP), and adherence to human epithelial cells (Hep 2). Additionally, adhesion to abiotic surface (Polyethylene, glass, stainless steel) was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then whole genome sequencing was conducted for all strains to analyze the virulome, resistome and phylogenome using different bioinformatic tools.Our results revealed that all S. aureus strains were slime producer on CRA plates with pigmented colonies (black and nearly black morphotypes) and were also able to form biofilm on the surface of several materials with different degrees. All tested strains adhere to Hep2 cell lines with a percentage of infected cells ranging from 45.0 % ± 0.078 to 92.0 % ± 0.022, and a total number of S. aureus/100 cells varying from 5.11 ± 2.14 (Strain S22) to 20.25 ± 5.15 (Strain S14). These results were correlated with those obtained from genome annotation highlighting that all multidrug resistant and biofilm-producing S. aureus strains harbored four ica genes (icaA, icaB, icaC, icaD) and their regulator icaR), clumping factor A and B (clfA and clfB genes), fibronectin binding proteins (fnbA in all strains and fnbB in 87.5 % of tested strains), elastin binding protein (ebps gene), extracellular adherence protein (Eap), staphylococcal protein A (spa gene), and Ser-Asp rich fibrinogen-binding proteins (sdrC). Most of the studied strains contained six to ten genomic islands associated with virulence factors, phage proteins, transcriptional regulators, insertion sequences and antimicrobial resistance genes. The study reported the presence of key adhesion-related genes underscores the colonization potential and pathogenicity in our strains. Additionally, the identification of multiple genomic islands associated with virulence and antimicrobial resistance highlights the need for vigilant monitoring in clinical settings.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687157X25000654S. aureusVirulence genesWhole genome sequencingPhenotypic adhesionBiofilm genes
spellingShingle Emira Noumi
Tarek Zmantar
Nouha Bouali
Abdulrahman S. Bazaid
Khulood Fahad Alabbosh
Kamel Chaieb
Hisham N. Altayb
Vincenzo De Feo
Mejdi Snoussi
Whole-genome sequencing and biofilm gene characterization in multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical strains
Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
S. aureus
Virulence genes
Whole genome sequencing
Phenotypic adhesion
Biofilm genes
title Whole-genome sequencing and biofilm gene characterization in multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical strains
title_full Whole-genome sequencing and biofilm gene characterization in multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical strains
title_fullStr Whole-genome sequencing and biofilm gene characterization in multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical strains
title_full_unstemmed Whole-genome sequencing and biofilm gene characterization in multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical strains
title_short Whole-genome sequencing and biofilm gene characterization in multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical strains
title_sort whole genome sequencing and biofilm gene characterization in multidrug resistant staphylococcus aureus clinical strains
topic S. aureus
Virulence genes
Whole genome sequencing
Phenotypic adhesion
Biofilm genes
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687157X25000654
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