Drug repurposing with non-antibiotic strategies against S. aureus and molecular profiling of resistance genes in Nile tilapia

Staphylococcus aureus is a major food-borne opportunistic pathogen that poses a significant public health threat, leading to severe tissue infections, bacteremia, and often life-threatening illness. While S. aureus has been extensively studied in livestock and poultry products in China, there is a notable lack of data regarding its presence and characteristics in aquatic products. This study investigates the prevalence, antibiotic resistance (ABR), its molecular profiling, and treatment regimens of S. aureus isolates from Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia). A total of 300 tilapia samples from various fish markets showed an overall S. aureus prevalence of 31.67 %. ABR profiles revealed significant resistance to commonly used antibiotics, such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (65 %) and tetracycline (55 %), highlighting the widespread emergence of resistance. Phylogenetic analysis revealed strong clade support for resistance gene clusters, such as MecA/C, ErmA, and TetK. Motif analysis showed distinct motifs, indicating their role in ABR mechanisms. Physiochemical properties showed that β-lactams and macrolides have a hydrophilic nature, and the tetracycline class exhibited a hydrophobic nature. BlaZ and MecA exhibit the highest occurrence of GATA, potentially emphasizing the regulation by transcription factors in the resistance to β-lactams group, while TEM exhibited a high frequency of GATA, YY1, and OCT1, implying these factors may regulate β-lactamase production. Through synergy evolution, one synergistic and three additive interactions were identified, indicating its potential for novel combination therapies against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Our study findings underscore the severity of ABR in aquaculture, highlighting the importance of effective antibiotic strategies. The comparative analysis of treatment efficacy also highlights the need for alternative strategies to control bacterial infections. Overall, our work offers valuable insights into resistance mechanisms and future management approaches for combating MDR pathogens in aquaculture settings.