Characterizing a Novel Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome with a Composite Structure from a Clinical Strain of Staphylococcus hominis, C34847.

Staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) has predominantly been described in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, studies have indicated that coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) carry a larger diversity of SCC elements. We characterized a composite SCC element carrying an uncharacterized and type A gene combination, in conjunction with a secondary element bearing , from a clinical strain of Staphylococcus hominis. The element's complex structure points to a high degree of recombination occurring in SCC in CoNS.