ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY OF MUTATIONS IN THE MECI GENE AND MECA PROMOTEROPERATOR REGION OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS-EPIDERMIDIS/

Genomic diversity of mutation in the mecI gene or mecA promoter/operat or region was analyzed for clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE). In most MRSA strains, a single base substitution was detected in either the mecI (three different positions) or the mecA promoter (two differe nt positions), while a 28-base deletion in mecI was found in one strai n. In contrast, no mutation was detected in these gene sequences of MR SE strains.