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Strain dependence of the cell wall-damage induced stimulon in Staphylococcus aureus

N McCallum1, G Spehar, M Bischoff

  • 1Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Gloriastr. 32, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland. mccallum@immv.unizh.ch

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|August 8, 2006
PubMed

Insights

This study details the vancomycin-induced gene expression in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Some gene responses mirrored those in methicillin-resistant strains, while others were unique to MSSA Newman.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus exhibits resistance to antibiotics like vancomycin, posing a significant clinical challenge.
  • Understanding the transcriptional response to antibiotics is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the vancomycin-induced transcriptome of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strain Newman.
  • To compare the gene expression patterns with those of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains and other antibiotic treatments.
  • To identify strain-specific responses and alterations in induction pathways in clinical isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Microarray analysis was employed to determine the transcriptome of MSSA Newman under vancomycin stress.
  • Northern blot analyses were used to examine the induction pathways in clinical isolates.

Main Results:

  • Vancomycin induced specific open reading frames (ORFs) in MSSA Newman.
  • Some induced ORFs overlapped with those reported in MRSA strains and in response to other cell wall-active antibiotics.
  • Other ORFs showed strain-specific induction in Newman.
  • Alterations in induction pathways were observed in clinical NARSA isolates.
  • Antibiotic induction was dependent on inhibitory concentrations.

Conclusions:

  • The transcriptional response to vancomycin in MSSA Newman shares similarities and differences with MRSA strains.
  • The induction pathway for vancomycin-responsive genes may be altered in clinical isolates.
  • Understanding these responses is key to combating Staphylococcus aureus infections.

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