A single strain of bacteria gave rise to the current national epidemic of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), according to new research published by scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Previously, some researchers had proposed that various strains of the MRSA may have evolved to have similar characteristics. However, this study's comparison of the genomes of 10 isolates of the USA300 strain of MRSA collected from patients from across the United States revealed few major genetic changes had occurred between the isolates, suggesting that this single strain has given rise to the various isolates (Kennedy AD et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.10.1073/pnas.0710217105 [published online ahead of print January 23, 2008]).
But even small genetic changes may be allowing some of the isolates to become more virulent. When the researchers infected mice with the bacteria grown from each of the 10 isolates, they found that 2 of the isolates were less likely to cause death.
Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature
Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal
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