Distribution of Antimicrobial Resistance and Biofilm Production Genes in the Genomic Sequences of S. aureus: A Global In Silico Analysis

<b>Background:</b><i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> constitutes a significant public health threat due to its exceptional adaptability, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and capacity to form biofilms, all of which facilitate its persistence in clinical and environmental settings. <b>Methods:</b> This study undertook an extensive in silico analysis of 44,069 <i>S. aureus</i> genomic sequences acquired from the NCBI database to assess the global distribution of biofilm-associated and resistance-associated genes. The genomes were categorized into human clinical and environmental groups, with clinical samples representing a predominant 96%. <b>Results:</b> The analysis revealed notable regional discrepancies in sequencing efforts, with Europe and North America contributing 76% of the genomes. Key findings include the high prevalence of the <i>ica</i> locus, which is associated with biofilm formation, and its robust correlation with other genes, such as <i>sasG</i>, which was exclusively linked to SCC<i>mec</i> type IIa. The AMR gene analysis revealed substantial genetic diversity within environmental samples, with genes like vga(E) and erm being identified as particularly prominent. The clonal complex analysis revealed ST8 (USA300) and ST5 as the predominant types in human clinical isolates, while ST398 and ST59 were most frequently observed in environmental isolates. SCC<i>mec</i> type IV was globally prevalent, with subtype Iva being strongly associated with ST8 in North America and subtype IVh with ST239 in Europe. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings underscore the dynamic evolution of <i>S. aureus</i> via mobile genetic elements and highlight the necessity for standardized metadata in public genomic databases to improve surveillance efforts. Furthermore, they reinforce the critical need for a One Health approach in monitoring <i>S. aureus</i> evolution, particularly concerning the co-dissemination of biofilm and resistance genes across various ecological niches.