S. aureus clonal complex designation

We have identified the common, largely non-overlapping clonal complexes within the database associated with ST. Clonal complexes here are defined as those STs that match the central genotype (ST) at four or more loci unless they more closely match another central genotype.

STs are assigned to clonal complexes automatically by a script that runs against the database each evening.

Currently defined complexes

This is not an exhaustive list of complexes, but those that are seen most frequently in the database and can usually be assigned unambiguously, with only minimal overlap with other complexes.