Panton-valentine leukocidin genes in a phage-like particle isolated from mitomycin C-treated Staphylococcus aureus V8 (ATCC 49775).

The staphylococcal Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes [lukS-PV-lukF-PV] existed in a hexagonal phage-like particle (phi PVL) isolated from mitomycin C-induced Staphylococcus aureus V8 (ATCC 49775). The genome packed in phi PVL was a linear double-stranded 40-kb DNA with single-stranded cohesive ends (cos). The [lukS-PV-lukS-PV], attP, and int (integrase gene) of phi PVL were all located very close to one another within a 4.0 kb-segment on the genome in the order given, and the segment is located at the center from the left and the right cos sites. In addition, the [lukS-PV-lukF-PV]-attP-int region contains 5 direct repeat sequences that show high similarity with the recombinase-binding sites of bacteriophages of S. aureus.