DNA was extracted using the automated QIAsymphony SP/AS instruments (QIAGEN, Germany). A multiplex PCR was used targeting the genes encoding PVL (lukS-PV and lukF-PV) and mecA and mecC, as described previously [13 (link)].
Sequence-based typing of the hypervariable region of S. aureus protein A (spa-typing) was performed as described by Harmsen and colleagues [15 (link)]. Spa types were assigned using the Ridom StaphType software version 2.2.1 (Ridom GmbH, Würzburg, Germany). Cluster analysis of spa typing data was performed by application of the integrated Based Upon Repeat Patterns (BURP) algorithm as described elsewhere [16 (link)]. The associated MLST-based sequence types or MLST-CCs were allocated by the Ridom SpaServer (http://spaserver.ridom.de ), retrieved from the literature [1 (link), 3 (link), 12 (link), 17 (link), 18 (link)], or derived from closely related spa-types.
Sequence-based typing of the hypervariable region of S. aureus protein A (spa-typing) was performed as described by Harmsen and colleagues [15 (link)]. Spa types were assigned using the Ridom StaphType software version 2.2.1 (Ridom GmbH, Würzburg, Germany). Cluster analysis of spa typing data was performed by application of the integrated Based Upon Repeat Patterns (BURP) algorithm as described elsewhere [16 (link)]. The associated MLST-based sequence types or MLST-CCs were allocated by the Ridom SpaServer (
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