The Staphylococcus aureus repeat (STAR) element is a sequence identified in
two intergenic regions in S. aureus. The element is found in 13 to 21 copi
es in individual S. aureus strains, and elements in the homologous intergen
ic location are variable in length. The element sequence consists of severa
l small and unusually GC-rich direct repeats with recurring intervening seq
uences. In addition, STAR-like elements may be present in related staphyloc
occal species.