Origins of Heavy-Metal Resistance in Pathogenic Staphylococcus saprophyticus

Bacterial resistance to heavy metals is important for microbial survival and ability to evade the host's innate immune defense. For example, Staphylococcus saprophyticus demonstrates resistance to heavy metals and is a common pathogen in the heavy-metal–rich urinary tract. Lawal and colleagues evaluated the susceptibility to arsenic, cadmium, copper, and zinc of 422 isolates of S. saprophyticus (obtained in 1997–2017 from environmental, animal, and human sources in 7 European countries). Sources included samples from patients with urinary tract infections, blood, human hand colonization, slaughterhouse equipment, pork meat, and household kitchens. The isolates were whole genome sequenced to identify genes conferring resistance to these heav…