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Characterization and Whole-Genome Sequencing of Staphylococcus aureus Collected from Boston Rats

Gerbig, Gracen Renee
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors158834219326593

Abstract Details

2020, BS, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Biological Sciences.
As strains of Staphylococcus aureus gain resistance to antibiotics, the risk of bidirectional transmission of resistant strains between humans and animals increases. Interactions with domestic animals and livestock may lead to human colonization, but there is scant research on whether urban wildlife do the same. The objective of this study is to examine the genomes of 20 S. aureus isolates collected from wild rodents in Boston, Massachusetts and determine their genetic relationship to human and animal strains. A total of 168 bacterial isolates collected from 45 Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) were analyzed. Standard methods were used for bacterial culture and diagnostics. MecA (methicillin resistance) and PVL (Panton-Valentine Leukocidin) genes were detected using polymerase chain reaction. All S. aureus isolates were spa typed and tested for antibiotic susceptibility. Non-S. aureus bacterial isolates were identified via VITEK 2 analysis. Whole genomes of 20 S. aureus isolates were sequenced and mapped to reference genome. Assembled genomes were interrogated for known antibiotic resistance genes. Our results indicate that wild rats in Boston, MA are indeed carriers of S. aureus, and that wild rodents may play a role in S. aureus ecology in urban areas. spa typing revealed strain types distinct from typical hospital and community-associated strains, but susceptibility results are consistent with human infections. Further research to characterize lineages of S. aureus strains is needed in order to minimize the risk of Staphylococcal infection from city rodents.
Tara Smith, Ph.D (Advisor)
Helen Piontkivska, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Elda Hegmann, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Christopher Woolverton, Ph.D (Committee Member)
46 p.
Microbiology
Microbiology; Epidemiology; Whole-Genome Sequencing; Microbial Ecology

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Citations

  • Gerbig, G. R. (2020). Characterization and Whole-Genome Sequencing of Staphylococcus aureus Collected from Boston Rats [Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors158834219326593

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gerbig, Gracen. Characterization and Whole-Genome Sequencing of Staphylococcus aureus Collected from Boston Rats. 2020. Kent State University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors158834219326593.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gerbig, Gracen. "Characterization and Whole-Genome Sequencing of Staphylococcus aureus Collected from Boston Rats." Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors158834219326593

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ksuhonors158834219326593
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© 2020, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University Honors College and OhioLINK.