Staphylococcus aureus
Molecular PathogenesisStaphylococcus aureus Isolated from Skin from Atopic-Dermatitis Patients Produces Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Y, Which Predominantly Induces T-Cell Receptor Vα-Specific Expansion of T CellsWhile investigating the virulence traits of Staphylococcus aureus adhering to the skin of atopic-dermatitis (AD) patients, we identified a novel open reading frame (ORF) with structural similarity to a superantigen from genome sequence data of an isolate from AD skin. Concurrently, the same ORF was identified in a bovine isolate of...
Bacterial InfectionsThe Impacts of msaABCR on sarA-Associated Phenotypes Are Different in Divergent Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureusThe staphylococcal accessory regulator (sarA) plays an important role in Staphylococcus aureus infections, including osteomyelitis, and the msaABCR operon has been implicated as an important factor in modulating expression of sarA. Thus, we investigated the contribution of msaABCR to sarA-associated phenotypes in the...
Host Response and InflammationThe Nature of Antibacterial Adaptive Immune Responses against Staphylococcus aureus Is Dependent on the Growth Phase and Extracellular PeptidoglycanStaphylococcus aureus has evolved different strategies to evade the immune response, which play an important role in its pathogenesis. The bacteria express and shed various cell wall components and toxins during different stages of growth that may affect the protective T cell responses to extracellular and intracellular...
Microbial Immunity and Vaccines | SpotlightClearance of Staphylococcus aureus from In Vivo Models of Chronic Infection by Immunization Requires Both Planktonic and Biofilm AntigensStaphylococcus aureus is a causative agent of chronic biofilm-associated infections that are recalcitrant to resolution by the immune system or antibiotics. To combat these infections, an antistaphylococcal, biofilm-specific quadrivalent vaccine against an osteomyelitis model in rabbits has previously been developed and shown to be effective at eliminating biofilm-...
Host Response and InflammationIn Staphylococcus aureus, the Particulate State of the Cell Envelope Is Required for the Efficient Induction of Host Defense ResponsesUpon microbial infection, host immune cells recognize bacterial cell envelope components through cognate receptors. Although bacterial cell envelope components function as innate immune molecules, the role of the physical state of the bacterial cell envelope (i.e., particulate versus soluble) in host immune activation has not been clearly defined.
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular InteractionsDuring the Early Stages of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation, Induced Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Are Degraded by Autologous ThermonucleaseStaphylococcus aureus extracellular DNA (eDNA) plays a crucial role in the structural stability of biofilms during bacterial colonization; on the contrary, host immune responses can be induced by bacterial eDNA. Previously, we observed production of S. aureus thermonuclease during the early stages...
Molecular PathogenesisMgrA Negatively Impacts Staphylococcus aureus Invasion by Regulating Capsule and FnbAVirulence genes are regulated by a complex regulatory network in Staphylococcus aureus. Some of the regulators are global in nature and affect many downstream genes. MgrA is a multiple-gene regulator that has been shown to activate genes involved in capsule biosynthesis and repress surface protein genes. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the biological...
Host-Associated Microbial CommunitiesThe Host Immune System Facilitates Disseminated Staphylococcus aureus Disease Due to Phagocytic Attraction to Candida albicans during Coinfection: a Case of Bait and SwitchInvasive Staphylococcus aureus infections account for 15 to 50% of fatal bloodstream infections annually. These disseminated infections often arise without a defined portal of entry into the host but cause high rates of mortality. The fungus Candida albicans and the Gram-positive bacterium...
Microbial Immunity and VaccinesInterleukin-10 (IL-10) Produced by Mutant Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin 1 Vaccine-Induced Memory T Cells Downregulates IL-17 Production and Abrogates the Protective Effect against Staphylococcus aureus InfectionDevelopment of long-term memory is crucial for vaccine-induced adaptive immunity against infectious diseases such as Staphylococcus aureus infection. Toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1), one of the superantigens produced by S. aureus, is a possible vaccine candidate against infectious diseases...
Host Response and InflammationStaphylococcus aureus Lipoic Acid Synthesis Limits Macrophage Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species Production To Promote Survival during InfectionMacrophages are critical mediators of innate immunity and must be overcome for bacterial pathogens to cause disease. The Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus produces virulence factors that impede macrophages and other immune cells. We previously determined that production of the metabolic cofactor lipoic acid by the lipoic acid synthetase, LipA, blunts...