(A) Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of the SmaI-fragmented genomic DNA obtained from MRSA isolates from Porto Alegre. Results for strains WB49 and WB45 (PFGE pattern A1), WB69 (pattern A2), WB56 (pattern A3), and WB72 (pattern B) are shown. (B) Comparison of the patterns exhibited by MRSA isolates from Porto Alegre city with those displayed by representatives of the international MRSA clones spread over the American continent. Results for BEC (strain BMB9393; a representative Brazilian epidemic clone), PC (strain HC563; a representative pediatric clone), and NY/JC (strain 17594; a representative New York/Japanese clone) are shown.