CHARACTERIZATION OF SSR MARKERS FOR GENOME-WIDE STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS
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Objective: The significant genetic diversity of Staphylococcus aureus, a significant human pathogen, supports its virulence, adaptability, and drug resistance. High-resolution molecular markers are essential for epidemiological surveillance and efficient strain classification. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are a potent but little-used class of genetic markers in bacterial systems. Method: An extensive genome-wide survey of SSRs in Staphylococcus aureus was conducted utilizing the Crate v1.5.1 platform to identify, categorize, and assess microsatellite sites for possible primer production. Results: 25,727 accurate SSRs were discovered out of 159,187 genomic sequences totaling 465.4 Mb with a GC level of 34.11%. SSRs have an average length of 43.94 bp and make up 1.13 Mb, or 0.25% of the genome. 2428.49 bp/Mb and 55.28 loci/Mb were determined to represent the overall density and relative abundance, respectively. Dinucleotide duplication (54.34%) and mononucleotide duplication (27.89%) were the most prevalent classes. Repeats of tri-, tetra-, pent-, and hexanucleotides made up progressively decreasing percentages. AC, AG, and AT were the most prevalent dinucleotide motifs, and a substantial bias towards A/T-rich repeats was revealed by motif structure analysis. A trade-off between polymorphism and stability was suggested by the majority of SSRs, which displayed intermediate repeat numbers, primarily between 5 and 13 units. Novelty: The AT-rich composition of the S. aureus genome is compatible with the reported SSR distribution patterns, which show selective restrictions on repetitive evolution. Crucially, dinucleotide repeats' high frequency and beneficial repeat characteristics highlight how well-suited they are for SSR primer production. These locations are excellent choices for producing dependable, reasonably priced, and incredibly educational content.
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