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Horizontal gene transfer boosts MRSA spreading

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Mechanisms triggering methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) epidemics are poorly understood. A recent study provides new evidence that horizontal gene transfer may be the culprit for the emergence of new resistant and virulent MRSA clones.

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Figure 1: Schematic view of the development of new epidemiologically successful clones triggered by horizontal gene transfer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. André Kriegeskorte and Georg Peters are at the Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,

    André Kriegeskorte & Georg Peters

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  1. André Kriegeskorte
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  2. Georg Peters
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Correspondence to Georg Peters.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Kriegeskorte, A., Peters, G. Horizontal gene transfer boosts MRSA spreading. Nat Med 18, 662–663 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.2765

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