Virtually all methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in the largest Portuguese teaching hospital are caused by two internationally spread multiresistant strains: the ‘Iberian’ and the ‘Brazilian’ clones of MRSA  D. Oliveira, I. Santos-Sanches, R. Mato, M. Tamayo, G. Ribeiro, D. Costa, H. de Lencastre  Clinical Microbiology and Infection  Volume 4, Issue 7, Pages 373-384 (July 1998) DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.1998.tb00081.x Copyright © 1998 European Society of Clinical Infectious Diseases Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Hybridization of ClaI digests with the Tn554 probe. This picture shows the most common ClaI::Tn554 insertion patterns (E, J and B) and the new pattern σ, found in the 129 MRSA isolates studied. ClaI::Tn554 pattern E is represented by strains HUC1, HUC51, HUC64, HUC25, HUC32 and HUC40; ClaI::Tn554 pattern J by strain HUC14; ClaI::Tn554 pattern B by strains HUC18 and HUC67; and ClaI::Tn554 pattern σ by strain HUC71. The names of the ClaI::Tn554 insertion patterns are displayed on the top of the picture. MW is the molecular size marker (1-kb Ladder, Gifco, BRL): the molecular sizes (kb) of the ladder bands are indicated. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 1998 4, 373-384DOI: (10.1111/j.1469-0691.1998.tb00081.x) Copyright © 1998 European Society of Clinical Infectious Diseases Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 Hybridization of ClaI digests with the Tn554 probe. This picture shows the most common ClaI::Tn554 insertion patterns (E, J and B) and the new patternσ, found in the 129 MRSA isolates studied. CIaI::Tn554 pattern E is represented by strains HUC1, HUC51, HUC64, HUC25, HUC32 and HUC40; CIaI::Tn554 pattern J by strain HUC14; CIaI::Tn554 pattern B by strains HUC18 and HUC67; and CIaI::Tn554 pattern u by strain HUC71. The names of the CIaI::Tn554 insertion patterns are displayed on the top of the picture. MW is the molecular size marker (1-kb Ladder, Gifco, BRL): the molecular sizes (kb) of the ladder bands are indicated. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 1998 4, 373-384DOI: (10.1111/j.1469-0691.1998.tb00081.x) Copyright © 1998 European Society of Clinical Infectious Diseases Terms and Conditions

Figure 3 PFGE major paterns and most important subtypes of SmaI digests. The most important subtypes of PFGE pattern A and B, the two predominant genomic backgrounds, are shown. The minor genomic backgrounds are also displayed. The PFGE pattern names are displayed on the top of the picture: pattern A1, strain HUC19; pattern A2, strain HUC31; pattern A3, strain HUC25; pattern A4, strain HUC51; pattern A7, strain HUC39; pattern A16, strain HUC146; pattern A18, strain HUC160; pattern A19, strain HUC180; pattern B1, strain HUC89; pattern B2, strain HUC149; pattern B3, strain HUC114; pattern B4, strain HUC123; pattern B5, strain HUC151; pattern B6, strain HUC152; pattern C, strain HUC42; pattern D, strain HUC27; pattern H, strains HUC46 and HUC50; pattern F, strain HUC182; pattern G, strains HUC189 and HUC194; and pattern H, strain HUC136. MW is the λ DNA ladder (New England, Biolabs) and STD is the reference strain NCTC8325. The molecular sizes (kb) of the ladder bands are indicated. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 1998 4, 373-384DOI: (10.1111/j.1469-0691.1998.tb00081.x) Copyright © 1998 European Society of Clinical Infectious Diseases Terms and Conditions

Figure 4 Evolution of the clonal types’ relative prevalence during the 4-year survey study in the Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 1998 4, 373-384DOI: (10.1111/j.1469-0691.1998.tb00081.x) Copyright © 1998 European Society of Clinical Infectious Diseases Terms and Conditions