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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Iranian Journal of Microbiology

Virulence gene profiles, SCCmec types, integrons, and antimicrobial resistance of clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Yasuj, southwest Iran

  • Sahar Milani1
  • Hadi Ebrahimi2
  • Seyed Sajjad Khoramrooz3
  • Leila Manzuri4
  • Marjan Salahi1
  • Seyed Abdolmajid Khosravani3
  • Kasra Sharifi5
  • Asghar Sharifi3
5 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Medical Microbiology, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
  2. 2Student Research Committee, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
  3. 3Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
  4. 4Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
  5. 5Student Research Committee, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
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Abstract

Background and Objectives:: Staphylococcus aureus poses clinical challenges through its virulence and antibiotic resistance, including SCCmec-mediated methicillin resistance. Integrated data on virulence profiling, molecular typing, and resistance are limited in Southwest Iran. We characterized virulence genes, SCCmec types, integrons, and antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus from diverse clinical sources in Yasuj, Iran.

Materials and Methods:: We analyzed 214 S. aureus isolates recovered from tonsil, wound, sinus, and blood specimens (2020–2023). Species confirmation was by nuc PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing followed CLSI disk diffusion guidelines; MRSA was confirmed by mecA PCR. PCR assays detected hemolysin genes (hla, hlb, hld), toxin genes (tst, pvl, eta, etb, etd), MSCRAMM genes (sdrC, sdrD, sdrE), sak, integrase genes (intI, intII), and SCCmec types I, III, and IVa.

Results:: Isolates were from tonsils (59.8%), wounds (29.9%), sinusitis (6.1%), and blood (4.2%). MRSA prevalence was 29.0%. Highest resistance was to penicillin (98.6%), erythromycin (59.3%), and tetracycline (54.7%), with MDR in 32.7%. Prevalent virulence genes were hld (87.9%), hla (68.2%), sak (60.3%), sdrC (44.4%), eta (37.9%), sdrD (36.9%), tst (32.2%), sdrE (29.0%), etd (18.2%), and pvl (3.7%). Among 104 MDR/MRSA isolates, intI and intII were found in 14.4% and 10.6%. SCCmec type III dominated (80.5%), followed by I (14.5%) and IVa (5.0%); types I and III were significantly linked to MDR (P < 0.05). Four isolates co-harbored pvl, tst, and hla.

Conclusion:: Considerable virulence gene carriage and SCCmec type III dominance were observed. Gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole, and clindamycin remain effective. Coexistence of life-threatening toxin genes and high resistance rates necessitates enhanced infection control.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{milani2026virulence,
  title = {{Virulence gene profiles, SCCmec types, integrons, and antimicrobial resistance of clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Yasuj, southwest Iran}},
  author = {Sahar Milani and Hadi Ebrahimi and Seyed Sajjad Khoramrooz and Leila Manzuri and Marjan Salahi and Seyed Abdolmajid Khosravani and Kasra Sharifi and Asghar Sharifi},
  journal = {Iranian Journal of Microbiology},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.18502/ijm.v18i5.22864},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v18i5.22864},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Virulence gene profiles, SCCmec types, integrons, and antimicrobial resistance of clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Yasuj, southwest Iran
AU  - Sahar Milani
AU  - Hadi Ebrahimi
AU  - Seyed Sajjad Khoramrooz
AU  - Leila Manzuri
AU  - Marjan Salahi
AU  - Seyed Abdolmajid Khosravani
AU  - Kasra Sharifi
AU  - Asghar Sharifi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/06
JO  - Iranian Journal of Microbiology
DO  - 10.18502/ijm.v18i5.22864
UR  - https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v18i5.22864
AB  - Background and Objectives:: Staphylococcus aureus poses clinical challenges through its virulence and antibiotic resistance, including SCCmec-mediated methicillin resistance. Integrated data on virulence profiling, molecular typing, and resistance are limited in Southwest Iran. We characterized virulence genes, SCCmec types, integrons, and antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus from diverse clinical sources in Yasuj, Iran.  Materials and Methods:: We analyzed 214 S. aureus isolates recovered from tonsil, wound, sinus, and blood specimens (2020–2023). Species confirmation was by nuc PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing followed CLSI disk diffusion guidelines; MRSA was confirmed by mecA PCR. PCR assays detected hemolysin genes (hla, hlb, hld), toxin genes (tst, pvl, eta, etb, etd), MSCRAMM genes (sdrC, sdrD, sdrE), sak, integrase genes (intI, intII), and SCCmec types I, III, and IVa.  Results:: Isolates were from tonsils (59.8%), wounds (29.9%), sinusitis (6.1%), and blood (4.2%). MRSA prevalence was 29.0%. Highest resistance was to penicillin (98.6%), erythromycin (59.3%), and tetracycline (54.7%), with MDR in 32.7%. Prevalent virulence genes were hld (87.9%), hla (68.2%), sak (60.3%), sdrC (44.4%), eta (37.9%), sdrD (36.9%), tst (32.2%), sdrE (29.0%), etd (18.2%), and pvl (3.7%). Among 104 MDR/MRSA isolates, intI and intII were found in 14.4% and 10.6%. SCCmec type III dominated (80.5%), followed by I (14.5%) and IVa (5.0%); types I and III were significantly linked to MDR (P < 0.05). Four isolates co-harbored pvl, tst, and hla.  Conclusion:: Considerable virulence gene carriage and SCCmec type III dominance were observed. Gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole, and clindamycin remain effective. Coexistence of life-threatening toxin genes and high resistance rates necessitates enhanced infection control.
SN  - 2008-3289
SN  - 2008-4447
ER  -