Molecular Evolution and Pathogenicity of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

The success of the Special Issue titled "Molecular Evolution and Pathogenicity of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus" has encouraged us to launch a second edition on the same topic.

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive and coagulase-positive pathogen belonging to the family of Staphylococcaceae. It has the capability to acquire resistance to most antibiotics and to collect virulence factors. This ability is further augmented by the constant emergence of new clones. Historically, penicillin-resistant S. aureus emerged in 1942 within two years of the introduction of penicillin. Semisynthetic antibiotic, methicillin, was then developed to substitute for the treatment of penicillin-resistant S. aureus. However, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was clinically identified in 1960 shortly after its introduction in 1959. Thereafter, worldwide outbreaks of MRSA occurred in waves. The dissemination of MRSA is marked by the propagation of a number of clones harboring specific genetic backgrounds in different continents. Although most MRSA strains are hospital-acquired originally, community-associated strains (CA-MRSA) have now been increasingly recognized worldwide and are both phenotypically and genotypically different from hospital-associated (HA) MRSA. The importance of Livestock-associated (LA) MRSA has also been frequently reported since the mid-2000s. Infections due to MRSA, in particular CA-MRSA and LA-MRSA, are associated with increased severity and a higher mortality rate compared to infections caused by methicillin-susceptible strains.

Staphylococci consist of more than 45 staphylococcal species (Staphylococcus spp), especially coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). Although the majority of CoNS are harmless and exist as opportunistic pathogens on the skin and mucous membranes of human and other animals, their significance has been boosted with an increasing number of CoNS infections, in particular their role in the evolution and pathogenicity of MRSA.

As a continuation of the first edition of this Special Issue published in 2023, in this second volume, we extend our coverage to include CoNS. We seek the submission of manuscripts focused on the latest advances in the molecular evolution, epidemiology, characterization, and pathogenicity of staphylococci, as well as their emerging trends in antibiotic resistance and control.

Prof. Dr. Kunyan Zhang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• Staphylococcal species (Staphylococcus spp.)
• Staphylococci
• Staphylococcus aureus
• methicillin-susceptive S. aureus (MSSA)
• methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)
• hospital-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA)
• community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)
• livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA)
• coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS)
• molecular evolution, epidemiology, characterization, and pathogenicity of Staphylococci
• antibiotic resistance
• infection prevention and control

• Molecular Evolution and Pathogenicity of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Antibiotics (13 articles)