Arginine catabolic mobile element


The arginine catabolic mobile element is a mobile genetic element of Staphylococcus bacterial species. This genetic element provides for several immune modulating functions, including resistance to polyamines which serve as a non-specific immune response both on intact skin and following the inflammatory response in wound healing. Diverse ACME are present in several species of Staphylococcus, including Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Association with virulent [MRSA]

ACME are not common among antibiotic sensitive S. aureus. The elements for the most prominent MRSA ACME appear to have assembled recently in S. epidermidis into the speG-positive ACME which was transferred to virulent S. aureus during the evolution of the epidemic USA300 MRSA strain. This broadened the ability of S. aureus to colonize sites other than a specific part of the nose. This strain is able to persist on intact skin and is spread rapidly person-to-person. As a result, the speG-positive ACME is a particularly important element of MRSA pathogenesis.