Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12Q—MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
  • C12Q1/00—Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions
  • C12Q1/68—Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions involving nucleic acids
  • C12Q1/6876—Nucleic acid products used in the analysis of nucleic acids, e.g. primers or probes
  • C12Q1/6888—Nucleic acid products used in the analysis of nucleic acids, e.g. primers or probes for detection or identification of organisms
  • C12Q1/689—Nucleic acid products used in the analysis of nucleic acids, e.g. primers or probes for detection or identification of organisms for bacteria
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12Q—MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
  • C12Q2600/00—Oligonucleotides characterized by their use
  • C12Q2600/156—Polymorphic or mutational markers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to novel SCCmec right extremity junction sequences for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and uses thereof for diagnostic and/or epidemiological purposes.
• Staphylococcus aureus is well documented as a human opportunistic pathogen (Murray et al. Eds, 1999, Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 7th Ed., ASM Press, Washington, D. C).
• Nosocomial infections caused by S. aureus are a major cause of morbidity and mortality.
• Some of the most common infections caused by S. aureus involve the skin, and they include furuncles or boils, cellulitis, impetigo, and postoperative wound infections at various sites. Some of the more serious infections produced by S.
• aureus are bacteremia, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, acute endocarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis, cerebritis, meningitis, scalded skin syndrome, and various abcesses. Food poisoning mediated by staphylococcal enterotoxins is another important syndrome associated with S. aureus. Toxic shock syndrome, a community-acquired disease, has also been attributed to infection or colonization with toxigenic S. aureus.
• MRSA Methicillin-resistant S. aureus
• Methicillin resistance in S. aureus is unique in that it is due to acquisition of DNA from other coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) 5 coding for a surnumerary ⁇ -lactam-resistant penicillin-binding protein (PBP), which takes over the biosynthetic functions of the normal PBPs when the cell is exposed to ⁇ -lactam antibiotics.
• S. aureus normally contains four PBPs, of which PBPs 1, 2 and 3 are essential.
• PBP 2a The low-affinity PBP in MRSA, termed PBP 2a (or PBP2'), is encoded by the choromosomal mecA gene and functions as a ⁇ -lactam-resistant transpeptidase.
• the mecA gene is absent from methicillin-sensitive S. aureus but is widely distributed among other species of staphylococci and is highly conserved (Ubukata et al., 1990, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 34:170-172).
• SCCmec staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec
• SCCmec is precisely excised from the chromosome of S, aureus strain N315 and integrates into a specific S 1 . aureus chromosomal site in the same orientation through the function of a unique set of recombinase genes comprising ccrA and ccrB.
• the three SCCmec have been designated type I (NCTC 10442), type II (N315) and type III (85/2082) based on the year of isolation of the strains (Ito et al., 2001, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 45:1323-1336).
• Hiramatsu et al. have found that the SCCmec DNAs are integrated at a specific site in the chromosome of methicillin- sensitive S. aureus (MSSA).
• MSSA methicillin- sensitive S. aureus
• AttBscc which is the bacterial chromosome attachment site for SCCmec DNA
• Sequence analysis of the attL, attR. attBscc sites revealed that attBscc is located at the 3' end of a novel open reading frame (ORF), orfX. or ⁇ . encodes a putative 159-amino acid polypeptide that exhibits sequence homology with some previously identified polypeptides of unknown function (Ito et al., 1999, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 43:1449-1458).
• Two new types of SCCmec, designated type IV and type V were recently described (Ma et al., 2002, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.
• sequence data for the right extremity of the SCCmec type IV from & aureus strains HDE288 and PL72 is not publicly available (Oliveira et al., 2001, Microb. Drug Resist. 7:349-360).
• Nucleotide sequences surrounding the SCCmec integration site in other staphylococcal species are different from those found in S. aureus. Therefore, this PCR assay is specific for the detection of MRSA.
• type III Compared to type I, type III has a unique nucleotide sequence while type II has an insertion of 102 nucleotides to the right terminus of SCCmec.
• the MREP typing method described by Hiramatsu et al. uses the following nomenclature: SCCmec type I is MREP type i, SCCmec type II is MREP type ii, and SCCmec type III is MREP type iii.
• MREJ refers to the mec right extremity junction « mec right extremity junction
• MREJs are approximately 1 kilobase (kb) in length and include sequences from the SCCmec right extremity as well as bacterial chromosomal DNA to the right of the SCCmec integration site.
• Strains that were classified as MREP types i-iii correspond to MREJ types i-iii.
• MREJ types iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, and x have been previously characterized (Huletsky et al., 2004, J Clin. Microbiol. 42:1875-1884; International Patent Application PCT/CA02/00824).
• the embodiments described herein relate to the generation of SCCmec right extremity junction sequence data that enables the detection of more MRSA strains in order to improve NAT assays for detection of MRSA. There is a need for developing more ubiquitous primers and probes for the detection of most MRSA strains around the world.
• MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
• MRSA strains have SCCmec nucleic acid insert comprising a mecA gene.
• the SCCmec insert renders the MRSA bacterium resistant to methicillin.
• the SCCmec is inserted into the bacterial DNA at the 3' end of the open reading frame or ⁇ C, creating a polymorphic right extremity junction (MREJ).
• MREJ polymorphic right extremity junction
• At least one primer and/or probe specific for MRSA strains is provided, wherein the primer or probe hybridizes to a polymorphic MREJ nucleic acid of MREJ types xi to xx.
• the primer(s) and/or probe(s) are annealed with the nucleic acids of the sample. Annealed primer and/or probe indicates the presence of MREJ. [0013] In preferred embodiments, more than one primer and/or probe is provided.
• the primers and/or probes can anneal to the MREJ nucleic acids under substantially the same annealing conditions.
• the primers and/or probes can be at least 10 nucleotides, 12 nucleotides, 14 nucleotides, 16 nucleotides, 18 nucleotides, 20 nucleotides, 25 nucleotides, or 30 nucleotides in length.
• the probes and primers can be used together in the same physical enclosure or in different physical enclosures.
• primers and/or probes are provided that anneal under stringent conditions to more than one MREJ type strain.
• SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, 33 are provided for the detection of MREJ types xi to xv and xvii to xx.
• primers and/or probes are provided in pairs for the detection of at least one MRSA having MREJ of types xi to xx. Accordingly, in some embodiments, at least one pair of oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 34/45, 34/30, 34/76, and 34/44 are provided for detection of MREJ type xi. In other embodiments, at least one pair of oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 35/45, 35/30, 35/62, and 35/44 are provided for detection of MREJ type xii.
• At least one pair of oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 29/45, 29/30, 29/76, and 29/44 is provided for detection of MREJ type xiii.
• at least one pair of oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 29/45, 29/30, 29/59, and 29/44 is provided for detection of MREJ type xiv.
• at least one pair of oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 24/45, 24/30, 24/62, and 24/44 is provided for detection of MREJ type xv.
• the oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NOs: 36 and 44 are provided for detection of MREJ type xvi. In still other embodiments, at least one pair of oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4/45, 4/30, 4/62, and 4/44 is provided for the detection of MREJ type xvii. In yet other embodiments, at least one pair of oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of 7/45, 7/30, 7/59 and 7/44 is provided for the detection of MREJ type xviii.
• At least one pair of oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of 9/45, 9/30, 9/59 and 9/44 is provided for the detection of MREJ type xix. In yet other embodiments, at least one pair of oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 8/45, 8/30, 8/59, and 8/44 is provided for the detection of MREJ type xx.
• At least two pairs of primers are provided for the detection of more than one MREJ type.
• the primers and/or probes listed in Table 5 are provided together to detect MRSA bacteria comprising the following MREJ nucleic acid:
• the methods described above further comprise providing primers and/or probes specific for a determined MREJ type, and detecting an annealed probe or primer as an indication of the presence of a determined MREJ type.
• primers and/or probes specific for the SEQ ID NOs listed in Table 6 are provided to detect MRSA bacteria comprising the following MREJ nucleic acid:
• the primers are used in an amplification reaction, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and variants thereof such as nested PCR and multiplex PCR, ligase chain reaction (LCR), nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NABSA), self-sustained sequence replication (3SR), strand displacement amplification (SDA), branched DNA signal amplification (bDNA), transcription- mediated amplification (TMA), cycling probe technology (CPT), solid-phase amplification (SPA), nuclease dependent signal amplification (NDSA), rolling circle amplification, anchored strand displacement amplification, solid phase (immobilized) rolling circle amplification, Q beta replicase amplification and other RNA polymerase medicated techniques.
• PCR polymerase chain reaction
• LCR ligase chain reaction
• NABSA nucleic acid sequence-based amplification
• SDA self-sustained sequence replication
• bDNA strand displacement amplification
• TMA transcription- mediated amplification
• PCR is used to amplify nucleic acids in the sample.
• oligonucleotides of at least 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, or 30 nucleotides in length which hybridize under stringent conditions with any of nucleic acids of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 42, 55, and 56, and which hybridize with one or more MREJ of types selected from xi to xx are also provided.
• primer and/or probe pairs are provided for the detection of MRSA of all of types xi to xx.
• the primer pairs (or probes) listed in Table 7 are provided:
• primers and/or probes used detection of MREJ types xi to xx are used in combination with primers and/or probes capable of detecting MRSA of MREJ types i to x, such as for example those primers and or probes disclosed in co-pending International Patent Application PCT/CA02/00824.
• nucleotide sequences comprising at least one of the nucleic acids of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 42, 55, and 56, or the complement thereof.
• Further embodiments relate to fragments of the nucleic acids of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 42, 55, and 56, wherein the fragments comprise at least 30, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, or 500 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleic acids of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 42, 55, and 56, or the complements thereof.
• vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 16, 17, 18,
• E. coli host cells comprising vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 42, 55, and 56.
• oligonucleotides that are at least 10, 12, 14,
• oligonucleotides that comprise the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, or 33.
• oligonucleotides that are at least 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25 or 30 nucleotides in length that anneal to only one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,
• kits comprising primers and/or probes.
• the primers and/or probes can be at least 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, or 30 nucleotides in length and hybridize with any one of the nucleic acids of MREJ type xi to xx.
• kits comprising primers and/or probes that are at least 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, or 30 nucleotides in length and hybridize with any one of the nucleic acids of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 42, 55, and 56.
• kits that comprise primer pairs.
• the kits comprise the following primer pairs: Primer/Probe SEQ ID NOs: To Identify MREJ type:
• Figure 1 depicts the SCCwec right extremity junctions. Shown are the positions and orientations of the primers used to sequence the novel MREJ types xi to xx.
• SEQ ID NOs.: 4, 24, 27-30, 36, 43-45, 50-57, 78-86 were used to sequence MREJ types xi, xii, xiii, xiv, xv, xvi, xvii, xviii, xix, and xx.
• Arrows and numbers below indicate the positions of primers and their respective SEQ ID NOs.
• Walk indicates the positions where the DNA Walking ACP (DW-ACP) primers from the DNA Walking SpeedUp Kit (Seegene, Del Mar, CA) have annealed on the SCCmec sequence.
• DW-ACP DNA Walking ACP
• Figure 2 depicts the SCCmec right extremity junction and the position of the primers (SEQ ID NOs.: 4, 7-9, 24, 29-36, 44, 45, 59, 62, 73) developed in the present invention for detection and identification of novel MREJ types xi, xii, xiii, xiv, xv, xvi, xvii, xviii, xix, and xx.
• Amplicon sizes are listed in Table 11. Numbers in parenthesis under MREJ types indicate MREJ SEQ ID NOs. Arrows indicate the positions of primers and the numbers below indicate their respective SEQ ID NOs. Dark bars and numbers below indicate the positions of probes and their respective SEQ ID NOs. Deletion in MREJ type xvi indicates the position of the 269-bp deletion in orfK.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a multiple sequence alignment of 19 representative MREJ types i to ix and xi to xx comprising the or ⁇ , the integration site, and the first 535 nucleotides of the SSCmec right extremity.
• MREJ types i to ix sequences are from co- pending International Patent Application PCT/CA02/00824 SEQ ID NOs.: 1, 2, 232, 46, 50, 171, 166, 167 and 168, respectively.
• SEQ ID NO: 18 corresponds to MREJ type xi
• SEQ ID NO: 20 corresponds to MREJ type xii
• SEQ ID NO: 15 corresponds to MREJ type xiii
• SEQ ID NO: 16 corresponds to MREJ type xiv
• SEQ ID NO: 56 corresponds to MREJ type xv
• SEQ ID NO: 21 corresponds to MREJ type xvi
• SEQ ID NO: 55 corresponds to MREJ type xvii
• SEQ ID NO: 39 corresponds to MREJ type xviii
• SEQ ID NO: 41 corresponds to MREJ type
• SEQ ID NO: 42 corresponds to MREJ type xx.
• MRSA Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
• MRSA strains that allow for the detection of MRSA that were undetectable using previously available methods.
• the novel DNA sequences and DNA arrangements are present at the SCCmec region of MRSA DNA.
• MRSA strains comprise an SCCmec insert that comprises a mec ⁇ gene.
• the SCCmec is inserted into the bacterial DNA at the 3' end of the or ⁇ C open reading frame.
• the insertion of the SCCmec into the bacterial DNA creates a polymorphic right extremity junction, hereinafter referred to as MREJ standing for «mec right extremity junction)).
• MREJ regions include sequences from the SCCmec right extremity, as well as chromosomal DNA adjacent to the right SCCmec integration site.
• Embodiments of the invention relate to the novel MREJ sequences and arrangements disclosed herein, which can be used as parental sequences from which primers and/or probes useful in the detection and identification of MRSA described below are derived.
• Other aspects of the invention relate to novel primers and/or probes derived from the novel MREJ sequences, as well as kits comprising primers and or probes that hybridize to MREJ types xi to xx, for the detection of MRSA.
• At least one primer and/or probe that is specific for MRSA strains and that anneals to an MREJ nucleic acid of types xi to xx, disclosed herein, is provided.
• the primer(s) and/or probe(s) can be annealed to the nucleic acids of the sample.
• the detection of annealed primer(s) and/or probe(s) indicates the presence of an MRSA of the MREJ type that hybridizes to the primer(s) and/or probe(s).
• nucleotides and polynucleotides shall be generic to polydeoxyribonucleotides (containing 2-deoxy-D-ribose), to polyribonucleotides (containing D-ribose), to any other type of polynucleotide which is an N- or C-glycoside of a purine or pyrimidine base, and to other polymers containing nonnucleotidic backbones, for example, polyamide (e.g., peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) and polymorpholino (commercially available from the Anti-Virals, Inc., Corvallis, Oreg., as NeugeneTM polymers), and other synthetic sequence-specific nucleic acid polymers providing that the
• nucleotide and polynucleotide include, for example, 3'- deoxy-2',5'-DNA, oligodeoxyribonucleotide N3'- ⁇ P5' phosphoramidates, 2'-O-alkyl- substituted RNA, double- and single-stranded DNA, as well as double- and single- stranded RNA, DNA:RNA hybrids, and hybrids between PNAs and DNA or RNA.
• the terms also include known types of modifications, for example, labels which are known in the art, methylation, "caps," substitution of one or more of the naturally occurring nucleotides with an analog, internucleotide modifications such as, for example, those with uncharged linkages (e.g., methyl phosphonates, phosphotriesters, phosphoramidates, carbamates, etc.), with negatively charged linkages (e.g., phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, etc.), and with positively charged linkages (e.g., aminoalklyphosphoramidates, aminoalkylphosphotriesters), those containing pendant moieties, such as, for example, proteins (including nucleases, toxins, antibodies, signal peptides, poly-L-lysine, etc.), those with intercalators (e.g., acridine, psoralen, etc.), those containing chelators (e.g., metals, radioactive metals, boron, oxid
• nucleoside and nucleotide will include those moieties which contain not only the known purine and pyrimidine bases, but also other heterocyclic bases which have been modified. Such modifications include methylated purines or pyrimidines, acylated purines or pyrimidines, or other heterocycles. Modified nucleosides or nucleotides will also include modifications on the sugar moiety, e.g., wherein one or more of the hydroxyl groups are replaced with a halogen, an aliphatic group, or are functionalized as ethers, amines, or the like.
• nucleotides or polynucleotides involve rearranging, appending, substituting for, or otherwise altering functional groups on the purine or pyrimidine base which form hydrogen bonds to a respective complementary pyrimidine or purine.
• the resultant modified nucleotide or polynucleotide may form a base pair with other such modified nucleotidic units but not with A, T, C, G or U.
• guanosine (2- amino-6-oxy-9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-purine
• isoguanosine (2- oxy-6-amino-9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-purine).
• Primers and/or probes can be provided in any suitable form, included bound to a solid support, liquid, and lyophilized, for example.
• Specific binding or annealing of the primers and/or probes to nucleic acid sequences is accomplished through specific hybridization. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that specific hybridization is achieved by selecting sequences which are at least substantially complementary to the target or reference nucleic acid sequence. This includes base-pairing of the oligonucleotide target nucleic acid sequence over the entire length of the oligonucleotide sequence. Such sequences can be referred to as "fully complementary" with respect to each other.
• oligonucleotide is referred to as "substantially complementary" with respect to a nucleic acid sequence herein, the two sequences can be fully complementary, or they may form mismatches upon hybridization, but retain the ability to hybridize under the conditions used to detect the presence of the MRSA nucleic acids.
• longer sequences have a higher melting temperature (T m ) than do shorter ones, and are less likely to be repeated within a given target sequence, thereby minimizing promiscuous hybridization.
• T m and “melting temperature” are interchangeable terms which refer to the temperature at which 50% of a population of double-stranded polynucleotide molecules becomes dissociated into single strands.
• Formulae for calculating the T m of polynucleotides are well known in the art.
• the T m of a hybrid polynucleotide may also be estimated using a formula adopted from hybridization assays in 1 M salt, and commonly used for calculating T m for PCR primers: [(number of A+T) x 2 0 C +(number of G+C) x 4 0 C]. See, e.g., C. R. Newton et al. PCR, 2nd Ed., Springer- Verlag (New York: 1997), p. 24. Other more sophisticated computations exist in the art, which take structural as well as sequence characteristics into account for the calculation of T m . A calculated T m is merely an estimate; the optimum temperature is commonly determined empirically.
• Primer or probe sequences with a high G+C content or that comprise palindromic sequences tend to self-hybridize, as do their intended target sites, since unimolecular, rather than bimolecular, hybridization kinetics are generally favored in solution.
• Preferred G+C content is about 50%.
• Hybridization temperature varies inversely with probe annealing efficiency, as does the concentration of organic solvents, e.g., formamide, which might be included in a hybridization mixture, while increases in salt concentration facilitate binding.
• organic solvents e.g., formamide
• salt concentration facilitate binding.
• stringent hybridization is performed in a suitable buffer under conditions that allow the reference or target nucleic acid sequence to hybridize to the probes.
• Stringent hybridization conditions can vary for example from salt concentrations of less than about 1 M, more usually less than about 500 mM and preferably less than about 200 mM) and hybridization temperatures can range (for example, from as low as O 0 C to greater than 22 0 C, greater than about 3O 0 C and (most often) in excess of about 37 0 C depending upon the lengths and/or the nucleic acid composition of the probes. Longer fragments may require higher hybridization temperatures for specific hybridization. As several factors affect the stringency of hybridization, the combination of parameters is more important than the absolute measure of a single factor.
• “Stringent hybridization conditions” refers to either or both of the following: a) 6 x SSC at about 45 0 C, followed by one or more washes in 0.2 x SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65 0 C, and b) 400 mM NaCl, 40 mM PIPES pH 6.4, 1 mM EDTA, 5O 0 C or 7O 0 C for 12-16 hours, followed by washing.
• detection of annealed primers and/or probes can be direct or indirect.
• probes can be annealed to the sample being tested, and detected directly.
• primers can be annealed to the sample being tested, followed by an amplification step.
• the amplified products can be detected directly, or through detection of probes that anneal to the amplification products.
• more than one primer and/or probe is provided.
• some embodiments relate to methods for detecting a plurality of MRSA strains comprising MREJ types xi to xx.
• a plurality of primers and/or probes may be used in reactions conducted in separate physical enclosures or in the same physical enclosure. Reactions testing for a variety of MRSA types can be conducted one at a time, or simultaneously.
• a multiplex PCR reaction can be conducted, with a plurality of oligonucleotides, most preferably that are all capable of annealing with a target region under common conditions.
• a plurality of primers and/or probes that are specific for different MREJ types are provided in a multiplex PCR reaction, such that the type of the MREJ can be determined.
• the primers and/or probes used for detection can have different labels, to enable to distinguish one MREJ type from another MREJ type.
• label refers to entities capable of providing a detectable signal, either directly or indirectly. Exemplary labels include radioisotopes, fluorescent molecules, biotin and the like.
• the novel MREJ sequences improve current NAT assays for the diagnosis of MRSA as they enable the skilled artisan to design of primers and probes for the detection and/or identification of MRSA strains with MREJ types xi to xx. Design and Synthesis of Oligonucleotide Primers and/or Probes
• oligonucleotides including probes for hybridization and primers for DNA amplification, were evaluated for their suitability for hybridization or PCR amplification by computer analysis using publicly and commercially available computer software, such as the Genetics Computer Group GCG Wisconsin package programs, and the OligoTM 6 and MFOLD 3.0 primer analysis software. The potential suitability of the PCR primer pairs was also evaluated prior to their synthesis by verifying the absence of unwanted features such as long stretches of one nucleotide and a high proportion of G or C residues at the 3' end (Persing et al, 1993, Diagnostic Molecular Microbiology. Principles and Applications, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.). Oligonucleotide amplification primers were synthesized using an automated DNA synthesizer (Applied Biosystems).
• the oligonucleotide sequence of primers or probes may be derived from either strand of the duplex DNA.
• the primers or probes may consist of the bases A, G, C, or T or analogs and they may be degenerated at one or more chosen nucleotide position(s), using a nucleotide analog that pairs with any of the four naturally occurring nucleotides. (Nichols et al, 1994, Nature 369:492-493).
• Primers and probes may also contain nucleotide analogs such as Locked Nucleic Acids (LNA) (Koskin et al, 1998, Tetrahedron 54:3607-3630), and Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNA) (Egholm et al, 1993, Nature 365:566-568).
• LNA Locked Nucleic Acids
• PNA Peptide Nucleic Acids
• Primers or probes may be of any suitable length, and may be selected anywhere within the DNA sequences from proprietary fragments, or from selected database sequences which are suitable for the detection of MRSA with MREJ types xi to xx.
• the primers and/or probes are at least 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, or 30 nucleotides in length.
• Variants for a given target microbial gene are naturally occurring and are attributable to sequence variation within that gene during evolution (Watson et al, 1987, Molecular Biology of the Gene, 4 th ed., The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Menlo Park, CA; Lewin, 1989, Genes IV, John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY).
• different strains of the same microbial species may have a single or more nucleotide variation(s) at the oligonucleotide hybridization site.
• the skilled artisan readily appreciates the existence of variant nucleic acids and/or sequences for a specific gene and that the frequency of sequence variations depends on the selective pressure during evolution on a given gene product.
• Detection of a variant sequence for a region between two PCR primers may be achieved by sequencing the amplification product.
• amplification and subsequent sequencing of a larger DNA target with PCR primers outside that hybridization site is required. Similar strategy may be used to detect variations at the hybridization site of a probe.
• variant MREJ sequences are contemplated, as are variant primer and/or probe sequences useful for amplification or hybridization to the variant MREJ.
• Oligonucleotide sequences other than those explicitly described herein' and which are appropriate for detection and/or identification of MRSA may also be derived from the novel MREJ sequences disclosed herein or selected public database sequences.
• the oligonucleotide primers or probes may be shorter but of a length of at least 10 nucleotides or longer than the ones chosen; they may also be selected anywhere else in the MREJ sequences disclosed herein or in the sequences selected from public databases. Further, variants of the oligonucleotides disclosed herein can be designed.
• the target DNA or a variant thereof hybridizes to a given oligonucleotide, or if the target DNA or a variant thereof can be amplified by a given oligonucleotide PCR primer pair, the converse is also true; a given target DNA may hybridize to a variant oligonucleotide probe or be amplified by a variant oligonucleotide PCR primer.
• the oligonucleotides may be designed from MREJ sequences for use in amplification methods other than PCR.
• the primers and/or probes disclosed herein were designed by targeting genomic DNA sequences which are used as a source of specific and ubiquitous oligonucleotide probes and/or amplification primers for MREJ types xi to xx.
• oligonucleotides suitable for diagnostic purposes requires much effort, it is quite possible for the individual skilled in the art to derive, from the selected DNA fragments, oligonucleotides other than the ones listed in Tables 9, 10 and 11 which are suitable for diagnostic purposes.
• kits, primers and probes disclosed herein can be used to detect and/or identify MRSA of MREJ types xi to xx, in both in vitro and/or in situ applications.
• the kits may be used in combination with previously described primers/probes detecting MRSA of MREJ types i to x.
• diagnostic kits, primers and probes disclosed herein can be used alone or in combination with any other assay suitable to detect and/or identify microorganisms, including but not limited to: any assay based on nucleic acids detection, any immunoassay, any enzymatic assay, any biochemical assay, any lysotypic assay, any serological assay, any differential culture medium, any enrichment culture medium, any selective culture medium, any specific assay medium, any identification culture medium, any enumeration culture medium, any cellular stain, any culture on specific cell lines, and any infectivity assay on animals.
• any assay based on nucleic acids detection any immunoassay, any enzymatic assay, any biochemical assay, any lysotypic assay, any serological assay, any differential culture medium, any enrichment culture medium, any selective culture medium, any specific assay medium, any identification culture medium, any enumeration culture medium, any cellular stain, any culture on specific cell lines, and any infectivity assay
• Samples may include but are not limited to: any clinical sample, any environmental sample, any microbial culture, any microbial colony, any tissue, and any cell line.
• an amplification and/or detection step follows the annealing step.
• Any type of nucleic acid amplification technology can be used in the methods described herein.
• Non-limiting examples of amplification reactions that can be used in the methods described herein include but are not restricted to: polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ⁇ See, PCR PROTOCOLS, A GUIDE TO METHODS AND APPLICATIONS, ed. Innis, Academic Press, N. Y. (1990) and PCR STRATEGIES (1995), ed. Innis, Academic Press, Inc., N. Y.
• ligase chain reaction LCR
• LCR ligase chain reaction
• NASBA nucleic acid sequence-based amplification
• 3SR self-sustained sequence replication
• SDA strand displacement amplification
• TMA transcription-mediated amplification
• cycling probe technology CPT
• nested PCR multiplex PCR
• solid phase amplification SPA
• nuclease dependent signal amplification NDSA
• rolling circle amplification technology RCA
• Anchored strand displacement amplification solid- phase (immobilized) rolling circle amplification
• Q Beta replicase amplification Q Beta replicase amplification and other RNA polymerase mediated techniques (e.g., NASBA, Cangene, Mississauga, Ontario).
• PCR is used to amplify nucleic acids in the sample.
• two oligonucleotide primers binding respectively to each strand of the heat-denatured target DNA from the microbial genome are used to amplify exponentially in vitro the target DNA by successive thermal cycles allowing denaturation of the DNA, annealing of the primers and synthesis of new targets at each cycle (Persing et al, 1993, Diagnostic Molecular Microbiology: Principles and Applications, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D. C).
• Standard amplification protocols may be modified to improve nucleic acid amplification efficiency, including modifications to the reaction mixture.
• Such modifications of the amplification reaction mixture include but are not limited to the use of various polymerases or the addition of nucleic acid amplification facilitators such as betaine, BSA, sulfoxides, protein gp32, detergents, cations, and tetramethylamonium chloride.
• Detection of amplified nucleic acids may include any real-time or post- amplification technologies known to those skilled in the art.
• Classically, the detection of PCR amplification products is performed by standard ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel electrophoresis, however, the skilled artisan will readily appreciate that other methods for the detection of specific amplification products, which may be faster and more practical for routine diagnosis, may be used, such as those described in co-pending patent application WO01/23604 A2.
• Amplicon detection may also be performed by solid support or liquid hybridization using species-specific internal DNA probes hybridizing to an amplification product.
• Such probes may be generated from any sequence from the repertory of MREJ nucleic acids disclosed herein, and designed to specifically hybridize to DNA amplification.
• amplicons can be characterized by sequencing. See co-pending patent application WOO 1/23604 A2 for examples of detection and sequencing methods.
• nucleic acid detection technologies include, but are not limited to the use of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based methods such as adjacent hybridization of probes (including probe-probe and probe-primer methods) ⁇ See, J. R. Lakowicz, "Principles of Fluorescence Spectroscopy,” Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, New York, 1999), TaqMan probe technology (See, European Patent EP 0 543 942), molecular beacon probe technology (See, Tyagi et al., (1996) Nat. Biotech. 14:303— 308.), Scorpion probe technology (See, Thewell (2000), Nucl Acids Res.
• FRET fluorescence resonance energy transfer
• molecular beacons are used in post- amplification detection of the target nucleic acids.
• Molecular beacons are single stranded oligonucleotides that, unless bound to target, exist in a hairpin conformation. The 5' end of the oligonucleotide contains a fluorescent dye. A quencher dye is attached to the 3' end of the oligonucleotide.
• the hairpin structure positions the fluorophore and quencher in close proximity, such that no fluorescence can be observed. Once the beacon hybridizes with target, however, the hairpin structure is disrupted, thereby separating the fluorophore and quencher and enabling detection of fluourescence.
• Other detection methods include target gene nucleic acids detection via immunological methods, solid phase hybridization methods on filters, chips or any other solid support. In these systems, the hybridization can be monitored by any suitable method known to those skilled in the art, including fluorescence, chemiluminescence, potentiometry, mass spectrometry, plasmon resonance, polarimetry, colorimetry, flow cytometry or scanometry. Nucleotide sequencing, including sequencing by dideoxy termination or sequencing by hybridization (e.g. sequencing using a DNA chip) represents another method to detect and characterize the nucleic acids of target genes. MREJ nucleic acids
• the MREJ fragments disclosed herein were obtained as a repertory of sequences created by amplifying MRSA nucleic acids with novel primers.
• the amplification and sequencing primers, the repertory of MREJ sequences, and the oligonucleotide sequences derived therefrom for diagnostic purposes, disclosed in Tables 8-11 are further objects of this invention.
• nucleic acids in particular nucleic acid sequences from DNA fragments of SCCmec right extremity junction (MREJ), including sequences from SCCmec right extremity and chromosomal DNA to the right of the SCCmec integration site in MRSA types xi to xx.
• MREJ SCCmec right extremity junction
• Some embodiments relate to the parental sequences of MREJ types xi to xx from which primers and/or probes specific for the MREJ type xi to xx strain are derived.
• DNA fragments and oligonucleotides such as primers and probes.
• nucleic acids comprising at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700, or 800 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleic acids of SEQ ID NO:15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 42, 55, or 56.
• the scope of this invention is not limited to the use of amplification by PCR, but rather includes the use of any nucleic acid amplification method or any other procedure which may be used to increase the sensitivity and/or the rapidity of nucleic acid-based diagnostic tests.
• the scope of the present invention also covers the use of any nucleic acids amplification and detection technology including real-time or post- amplification detection technologies, any amplification technology combined with detection, any hybridization nucleic acid chips or array technologies, any amplification chips or combination of amplification and hybridization chip technologies. Detection and identification by any nucleotide sequencing method is also under the scope of the present invention.
• SCCmec types I- V Five types of SCCmec right extremity sequences (SCCmec types I- V) are found among MRSA strains, based on DNA sequence homology ⁇ See, Ito et al, 1999, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 43:1449-1458; Katayama et al, 2000, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 44:1549-1555; Ito et al, 2001, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 45:1323-1336; Ma et al, 2002, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 46:1147-1152; Ito et al, 2004, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 48:2637- 2651).
• SCCmec DNAs are integrated at a specific site of the chromosome of a methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), named orfK.
• MSSA methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus
• each SCCmec type has a unique nucleotide sequence at the right extremity of the SCCmec cassette.
• SCCmec types II and IV which exhibit nearly identical sequence over 2000 nucleotides.
• SCCmec type II has an insertion of 102 nucleotides to the right terminus of SCCmec type I.
• Strains classified as SCCmec types I - III fall under the category of MREJ types i-iii. [0065] Recently, we analyzed the MREJ regions of several MRSA strains.
• MREJ types iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, and x Huletsky et al, 2004, J Clin. Microbiol. 42:1875-1884; International Patent Application PCT/CA02/00824.
• each PCR reaction contained the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO:65, which anneals to MREJ type vi, the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO:75, which anneals to MREJ type viii, or the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO:29, which anneals to MREJ type ix, in combination with the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 30, which is a S. aureus-speci ⁇ c primer.
• MREJ type x was previously shown to have a deletion of the complete or ⁇ C and a portion at the right extremity of SCCmec type II (International Patent Application PCT/CA02/00824).
• the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO:77 which anneals to orfl.2 in the S. aureus chromosome
• the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO:73 which anneals to or/27 located in SCCmec type II were used in a PCR reaction to detect MREJ type x.
• 17 MRSA strains were not detected with primers targeting MREJ types vi, viii, ix, and x suggesting that these strains harbor new MREJ types (Tables 2 and 3).
• EXAMPLE 2 Sequencing of Novel MREJ Types from MRSA [0070] To further characterize the MREJ region of the 17 MRSA strains from which DNA was not amplified with primers that allow the detection of MREJ types i to x, the nucleotide sequence of MREJ for 15 of these 17 MRSA strains was determined. First, a primer that anneals to mecA (SEQ ID NO.: 50) and a primer that anneals to the 5' end of or ⁇ C (SEQ ID NO.: 44) were used together in a PCR reaction to amplify MREJ fragments of MRSA. The strategy used to select these primers is illustrated in Figure 1. Four identical PCR reactions, each containing 100 ng of purified genomic DNA were performed.
• Each PCR reaction contained IX HERCULASETM DNA polymerase buffer (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA), 0.8 ⁇ M of each of the oligos of SEQ ID NOs.: 44 and 50, 0.56 mM of each of the four dNTPs and 5 units of HERCULASETM DNA polymerase (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA) with 1 mM MgCl 2 in a final volume of 50 ⁇ l.
• IX HERCULASETM DNA polymerase buffer (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA)
• 0.8 ⁇ M of each of the oligos of SEQ ID NOs.: 44 and 50 0.56 mM of each of the four dNTPs and 5 units of HERCULASETM DNA polymerase (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA) with 1 mM MgCl 2 in a final volume of 50 ⁇ l.
• PCR reactions were subjected to cycling using a standard thermal cycler (PTC-200 from MJ Research Inc.) as follows: 2 min at 92 0 C followed by 35 or 40 cycles of 10 sec at 92 0 C for the denaturation step, 30 sec at 55 0 C for the annealing step and 15 min at 68 °C for the extension step.
• PTC-200 standard thermal cycler
• the four PCR reactions were pooled. 10 ⁇ L of the PCR reaction was resolved by electrophoresis in a 0.7% agarose gel containing 0.25 ⁇ g/mL of ethidium bromide. The amplicons were then visualized with an Alpha-Imager (Alpha Innotech Corporation, San Leandro, CA) by exposing to UV light at 254 nm. The remaining PCR- amplified mixture (150-200 ⁇ l, total) was also resolved by electrophoresis in a 0.7% agarose gel and visualized by staining with methylene blue (Flores et al., 1992, Biotechniques, 13:203-205).
• Alpha-Imager Alpha Innotech Corporation, San Leandro, CA
• amplification products ranging from 12-20 kb in length with SEQ ID NOs.: 44 and 50 as primers: CCRI-11976, CCRI-11999, CCRI-12157, CCRI-12198, CCRI-12199, CCRI-12719, CCRI-9887, CCRI-9772.
• the amplification products were excised from the agarose gel and purified using the QIAquickTM gel extraction kit (QIAGEN Inc., Valencia, CA). The gel-purified DNA fragments were used directly in sequencing reactions.
• Both strands of the MREJ amplification products were sequenced by the dideoxynucleotide chain termination sequencing method using an Applied Biosystems automated DNA sequencer (model 377 or 3730x1) with their Big DyeTM Terminator Cycle Sequencing Ready Reaction Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). 425-495 ng of the gel-purified amplicons were used in sequencing reactions with SEQ ID NO.: 44, which was used for the amplification reaction. Based on the sequence information generated from the reactions with SEQ ID NO:44, internal sequencing primers were designed and used to obtain sequence data from both strands for a larger portion of each amplicon preparation.
• the oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NOs.: 43 and 45 were used to sequence MRSA strains CCRI-11976 and CCRI-11999; SEQ ID NOs.: 43, 45, and 51 were used to sequence MRSA strains CCRI-12157, CCRI-12198, and CCRI-12199; SEQ ID NOs.: 43, 45, and 52 were used to sequence MRSA strain CCRI-12719; SEQ ID NO.: 24 was used to sequence MRSA strain CCRI-9887, and SEQ ID NOs.: 4, 45, and 57 were used to sequence MRSA strain CCRI-9772 ( Figure 1, Tables 9 and 11). The sequences of the 8 strains described in Table 3 are presented as SEQ ID NOs.: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 55, and 56 (Table 8).
• Each PCR reaction contained IX HERCULASETM DNA polymerase buffer (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA), 0.8 ⁇ M of each of the 2 primers (SEQ ID NOs.: 27 and 44), 0.56 mM of each of the four dNTPs and 5 units of HERCULASETM DNA polymerase (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA) with 1 mM MgCl 2 in a final volume of 50 ⁇ l.
• PCR reactions were cycled using a standard thermal cycler (PTC-200 from MJ Research Inc., Watertown, MA) as follows: 2 min at 92°C followed by 35 cycles of 10 sec at 92 0 C for the denaturation step, 30 sec at 55 0 C for the annealing step and 15 min at 68 0 C for the extension step.
• PTC-200 from MJ Research Inc., Watertown, MA
• PCR reactions were pooled and 10 ⁇ l of the PCR-amplified mixture was resolved by electrophoresis in a 0.7% agarose gel containing 0.25 ⁇ g/ml of ethidium bromide.
• the amplicons were then visualized with an Alpha-Imager (Alpha Innotech Corporation, San Leandro, CA) by exposing to UV light at 254 nm.
• the remaining PCR-amplified mixture (150-200 ⁇ l, total) was also resolved by electrophoresis in a 0.7% agarose gel and visualized by staining with methylene blue as described above. For these two MRSA strains, an amplification product of ⁇ 8 kb was obtained.
• the PCR amplification products were excised from the agarose gel and purified as described above.
• the gel-purified DNA fragment was then used directly in the sequencing protocol as described above.
• the sequencing reactions were performed by using SEQ ID NO.: 44 (also used in the amplification reaction) and 425-495 ng of the gel-purified amplicons for each reaction.
• different sets of internal sequencing primers were used to obtain sequence data from both strands and for a larger portion of the amplicon (SEQ ID NOs.: 28, 30, and 43) ( Figure 1, Tables 9 and 11).
• the sequence of the MRSA strains CCRI-12382 and CCRI-12383 described in Table 3 which were sequenced using this strategy are designated SEQ ID NOs.: 25 and 26, respectively (Table 8).
• Each PCR reaction contained 50 mM KCl, 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 9.0), 0.1% Triton X-IOO, 2.5 mM MgCl 2 , 0,4 ⁇ M of each of the oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO.: 44 and 53, 200 ⁇ M of each of the four dNTPs, 3.3 ⁇ g/ ⁇ l of BSA (Sigma-Aldrich Canada Ltd) and 0.5 unit of Taq DNA polymerase (Promega, Madison, WI) coupled with the restartTM Antibody (BD Bisociences, San Jose, CA).
• BSA Sigma-Aldrich Canada Ltd
• Taq DNA polymerase Promega, Madison, WI
• PCR reactions were performed using a standard thermocycler (PTC-200 from MJ Research Inc., Watertown, MA) as follows: 3 min at 94°C followed by 40 cycles of 5 sec at 95 0 C for the denaturation step, 1 min at 58°C for the annealing step and 1 min at 72°C for the extension step. An amplification product of 4.5 kb was obtained with this primer set.
• the amplification products were pooled and 10 ⁇ l of the mixture were resolved by electrophoresis in a 1.2% agarose gel containing 0.25 ⁇ g/ml of ethidium bromide. The amplicons were then visualized with the Alpha-Imager. Amplicon size was estimated by comparison with a 1 kb molecular weight ladder (Life Technologies, Bethesda, MD). The remaining PCR-amplified mixture (150 ⁇ l, total) was also resolved by electrophoresis in a 1.2% agarose gel and visualized by staining with methylene blue as described above. The PCR reaction yielded a 1.2 kb amplification product.
• the band corresponding to this specific amplification product was excised from the agarose gel and purified as described above.
• the gel-purified DNA fragment was then used directly in the sequencing protocol as described above.
• the sequencing reactions were performed using the oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NOs.: 44 and 53 as well as one internal primer (SEQ ID NO.: 54) and 10 ng/100 bp per reaction of the gel-purified amplicons ( Figure 1, Table 10).
• the MREJ sequence of strain CCRI-12845 is designated as SEQ ID NO.: 21 (Table 8).
• the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 44 was used in combination with each of the four DNA Walking ACP (DW-ACP) primers from the DNA WALKING SPEED UPTM Sequencing Kit (Seegene, Del Mar, CA) according to the manufacturer's instructions on a PTC-200 thermocycler.
• the DW- ACP primer system (DW ACP-PCRTM Technology) enables one to obtain genuine unknown target amplification products up to 2 kb.
• a first amplification product obtained with one of the DW-ACP primers was purified using the QIAQUIKTM PCR purification Kit (QIAGEN Inc., Valencia, CA).
• the purified PCR product was re-amplified using the DW-ACP-N primer in combination with the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 30, which anneals to or ⁇ C under manufacturer recommended PCR conditions.
• the PCR-amplified mixture of 4 different 50- ⁇ L PCR reactions were pooled and resolved by electrophoresis in a 1.2% agarose gel. The amplicons were then visualized by staining with methylene blue as described above. Amplicon size was once again estimated by comparison with a 1 kb molecular weight ladder.
• An amplification product of 1.5 to 3 kb was obtained.
• the amplification product was excised from the agarose gel and purified as described above and the DNA was then used directly in the sequencing protocol as described above. 10 ng of purified DNA for every 100 bp of the amplicon was used in sequencing reactions using the oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO.: 30 and DW-ACP-N.
• the MREJ sequences from MRSA strains strains CCRI-12524, CCRI-12535, CCRI-12810, and CCRI-12905 (described in Table 3) are designated SEQ ID NOs.: 39, 40, 41, and 42 (Table 8).
• CCRI-12376 and CCRI-12593 described in Table 3 were not sequenced but rather characterized using PCR primers and shown to contain MREJ type xiii using specific amplification primers.
• EXAMPLE 3 Sequence Analysis of Novel MREJ types xi-xx [0081] The sequences obtained for 15 of the 17 strains non-amplifiable by the MRSA-specific primers detecting MREJ types i to x previously described were compared to the sequences available from public databases. In all cases except MRSA strain CCRI- 12845, the orfK portion of the MREJ sequence had an identity close to 100% to publicly available sequences for or ⁇ .
• CCRI-12845 has a deletion in orfX (SEQ ID NO.: 21) (described below). While the or ⁇ ( portion of most MREJ fragments (SEQ ID NOs.: 15- 20, 25-26, 39-42, 55-56) shared nearly 100% identity with publicly available 5. aureus or ⁇ C sequences, with the exception of strain CCRI-12845, the DNA sequence within the right extremity of SCCmec itself was shown to be different from those of MREJ types i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, and x (International Patent Application PCT/CA02/00824; US patent 6,156,507).
• MREJ types xi to xx The DNA sequence within the right extremity of SCCmec of CCRI- 12845 was similar to that of MREJ type ii (see below). Thus, ten different novel MREJ sequence types are reported herein: MREJ types xi to xx.
• MREJ type xi SEQ ID NOs.: 17- 19
• a BLASTTM search revealed that the first 86 bp of the SCCmec portion of MREJ type xi exhibited 87% identity with an unknown sequence of Staphylococcus epidermidis strain SRl (GenBank accession number AF270046). The remainder of the MREJ sequence was shown to be unique, exhibiting no significant homology to any published sequence.
• the sequence obtained at the right extremity of SCCmec from strain CCRI-12719 was different from MREJ types i to x as well as from MREJ type xi.
• the new MREJ type was designated as MREJ type xii.
• GenBank accession number AB121219 the sequence at the right extremity of SCCmec of MREJ type xii exhibited 100 % identity with the sequence found at the right extremity of the SCCmec type V recently described (Ito et al., 2004, Antimicrob. Agents. Chemother. 48:2637-2651; GenBank accession number AB121219).
• the sequence also exhibited 85% identity with a 212-nucleotide region of the Staphylococcus epidermidis RP62a putative GTP-binding protein sequence.
• MREJ type xiv The sequence within the right extremity of SCCmec obtained from strain CCRI-11999 (SEQ ID NO.: 16) was also different from MREJ types i to x as well as from MREJ types xi, xii, and xiii, and consequently, was designated as MREJ type xiv.
• a BLASTTM search of the MREJ types xiii and xiv sequences showed that a portion of the SCCmec of these two MREJ types was identical to that of MREJ type ix.
• MREJ types ix and xiv were preceded by one and two consecutive 102 bp insertions, respectively, when compared to MREJ type xiii.
• the rest of the MREJ types ix, xiii, and xiv sequences were 99.9% identical to each other. These sequences exhibited identities ranging from 97% to 100% (for the highest BLAST scores) with noncontiguous regions (in varying sizes of 1535 to 1880 nucleotides) of the SCC cassette without mecA harboring the chromosome recombinase genes of the methicillin- susceptible strain S. epidermidis ATCC 12228 (GenBank accession number BK001539). The sequence of the 102-pb insertion was 99-100% identical to that found in MREJ type ii.
• MREJ type xv The sequence obtained within the right extremity of SCCmec from strain CCRI-9887 was different from MREJ types i to x as well as from MREJ types xi to xiv and was therefore designated as MREJ type xv (SEQ ID NO.: 56).
• MREJ type xv has been described, the localization of this sequence downstream of orfX in a MRSA strain has heretofore not been described.
• the CCRI-9887 MREJ sequence also exhibited 94% identity with a 306-nucleotide region of strain Staphylococcus haemolyticus JCSC1435 located near the orfX sequence.
• MREJ type xvii SEQ ID NO.:55.
• a BLASTTM search against the GenBank database revealed that the SCCmec portion of MREJ type xvii sequence exhibited 100% identity with the sequence at left of the SCCmec junction of S 1 . aureus strain CA05 (JCSC 1968) (GenBank Accession number AB063172) harbouring SCCmec type IV (Ma et al, 2002. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 46:1147- 1152).
• the genetic organization of MREJ type xvii is similar to the region downstream of orfic in MSSA. Although the sequence itself has been described previously, the localization of this sequence downstream of or ⁇ C in a MRSA strain has heretofore never been described.
• strain CCRI- 12810 The sequence obtained from strain CCRI- 12810 was different from MREJ types i to x as well as from MREJ types xi to xviii and was designated as MREJ type xix (SEQ ID NO.. -41).
• SEQ ID NO.. -431 The sequence obtained from strain CCRI- 12810 was different from MREJ types i to x as well as from MREJ types xi to xviii and was designated as MREJ type xix (SEQ ID NO.. -41).
• GenBank sequences using BLAST the SCCmec portion of MREJ type xix sequence exhibited 100% identity with a 597- nucleotide region of unknown function of strain ATCC 25923 which is located at the left of SCCmec (GenBank accession number AB047239).
• MRSA252, 85/3907, 85/2082, and MRl 08 Genetic organization of MREJ type xix is similar to the region downstream of orjx in MSSA. Although the sequence itself had been described, the presence of this DNA fragment downstream of orjX had heretofore never been described.
• MREJ type xx SEQ ID NO.:42
• SCCmec of MREJ type xx sequence exhibited 100% and 99% identities with two non-contiguous sequences (respectively 727 and 307 nucleotides long) downstream of orfX of the methicillin-susceptible S. aureus strain NCTC 8325 (GenBank accession number ABO 14440).
• the genetic organization of MREJ type xx is similar to the region downstream of orfic in MSSA.
• EXAMPLE 4 Sequence comparison of new MREJ types xi to xx [0092] The sequences of the first 500-nucleotide portion of the SCCmec right extremity of all new MREJ types (xi to xx) were compared with each other and with those of the previously described MREJ types i to ix using GCG software programs Pileup and Gap (GCG, Wisconsin). Table 12 depicts the identities at the nucleotide level between the SCCmec right extremities of the 10 novel MREJ types (xi to xx) with those of the MREJ types previously described (i to ix) using the GCG program Gap.
• MREJ type x was excluded from this comparison since this MREJ sequence is deleted of the complete or ⁇ f and of the SCCmec integration site as well as ⁇ 4 kb at the right extremity of SCCmec when compared to the right extremity of SCCmec type II.
• the SCCmec right extremity of MREJ types ix, xiii, and xiv differed by only one and two 102-bp insertions present in MREJ types ix and xiv, respectively. However, the rest of these three sequences showed nearly 100% identity (Figure 3).
• MREJ types i, ii, and xvi were used in combination with a primer targeting the S. aureus or ⁇ ( (SEQ ID NO.: 44).
• MREJ types i, ii, and xvi can be distinguished from each other by their different amplicon length.
• Oligonucleotides primers found to amplify specifically DNA from the target MRSA MREJ types were subsequently tested for their ubiquity by PCR amplification (i.e. ubiquitous primers amplified efficiently most or all isolates of MRSA of the target MREJ type).
• the specificity and ubiquity of the PCR assays were tested either directly with bacterial cultures or with purified bacterial genomic DNA.
• the specificity of the primers targeting MREJ types xi to xx was also verified by testing DNA from MRSA strains harboring all other MREJ types.
• PCR reaction contained 50 mM KCl, 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 9.0), 0.1% Triton X- 100, 2.5 mM MgCl 2 , 0.4 ⁇ M of each of MREJ type xi primer (SEQ ID NO.: 34), MREJ type xii primer (SEQ ID NO.: 35), MREJ types xiii and xiv primer (SEQ ID NO.: 29), MREJ type xv primer (SEQ ID NO.: 24), MREJ type xvi (SEQ ID NO.: 36), MREJ type xvii primer (SEQ ID NO.: 4), MREJ type xviii primer (SEQ ID NO.: 7), MREJ type xix primer (SEQ ID NO.: 9), or MREJ type xx primer (SEQ ID NO.: 34), MREJ type xii primer (SEQ ID NO.: 35), MREJ types xiii and xiv primer (SEQ ID
• ⁇ wrer ⁇ -specif ⁇ c primer SEQ ID NO.: 30 or SEQ ID NO.: 44 for MREJ type xvi
• 200 ⁇ M of each of the four dNTPs Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, NJ
• 3.3 ⁇ g/ ⁇ l of BSA SIGMA, St. Louis, MO
• 0.5 U Taq polymerase Promega, Madison, WI coupled with 7 ⁇ gStartTM Antibody (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA).
• PCR reactions were then subjected to thermal cycling: 3 min at 94°C followed by 40 cycles of 60 seconds at 95°C for the denaturation step, 60 seconds at 55°C for the annealing step, and 60 seconds at 72°C for the extension step, then followed by a terminal extension of 7 minutes at 72°C using a standard thermocycler (PTC-200 from MJ Research Inc., Watertown, MA). Detection of the PCR products was made by electrophoresis in agarose gels (1.2 %) containing 0.25 ⁇ g/ml of ethidium bromide.
• A-6 60 (A) 842/96 (Berlin epidemic EMRSA IVa)
• MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
• MSSA methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus.
• Reference S. aureus strains used are listed in Table 1. The origin of the S. aureus clinical isolates is described in the text.
• Staphylococcus aureus strain designation Original CCRF Origin
• CCRI stands for "Collection of the Centre debericht en Infectiologie”.
• Table 8 Novel Staphylococcus aureus MREJ a nucleotide sequences
• MREJ refers to mec right extremity junction and includes sequences from the SCCmec right extremity and chromosomal DNA to the right of the SCCmec integration site.
• Sequence refers to the target gene
• a Position refers to nucleotide position of 5' end of primer b Primer is reverse-complement of target sequence
• Position refers to nucleotide position of the 5' end of primer (on the target sequence). SEQ ID NOs from International Patent Application PCT/CA02/00824. Primer is reverse-complement of target sequence. SEQ ID NOs from WO96/08582.
• Amplicon length is given in base pairs for MREJ types amplified by the set of primers Amplicon length is based on analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis Table 12. Percentage of sequence identity for the first 500 nucleotides of SCCmec right extremities between 19 types of MREJ a b i ii a iii iv v vi vii viii ix' xi xii xiii xiv c XV xvi xvii xviii xix XX i 100 44,4 39,1 40,4 42, 9 43, 2 41, 5 42,4 41,1 40,2 42,4 42,4 42, 1 100 42,1 44,1 42,5 40,4 il a - 44,4 39,1 40,4 42, 9 43, 2 41, 5 42,4 41,1 40,2 42,4 42,4 42, 1 100 42,1 44,1 42,5 40,4 il a - 44
• First 500 nucleotides refers to the 500 nucleotides within the SCCmec right extremity, starting from the integration site of SCCmec in the Staphylococcus aureus chromosome as shown on Figure 3.
• MREJ type x was excluded from the sequence comparison because it is deleted from the completed orflf, the integration site, and part of the SCCmec right extremity. Sequences for types xi to xx were extracted from SEQ ID NOs.: 18, 20, 25, 16, 56, 21, 55, 39, 41 and
• Sequence from the SCCmec right extremity of MREJ type vi is limited to 371 nucleotides.
• the first 102 nucleotides from the SCCmec right extremity of MREJ type ii were excluded from the sequence comparison.
• the first 206 nucleotides from the SCCmec right extremity of MREJ type xiv were excluded from the sequence comparison.
• the first 102 nucleotides from the SCCmec right extremity of MREJ type ix were excluded from the sequence comparison.

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