Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...

Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence

Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a variety of strategies to establish infections, including the secretion of extracellular enzymes that act as potent virulence factors. These enzymes facilitate bacterial colonization of host tissues and help evade immune surveillance. By targeting structural components of host tissues and interfering with immune mechanisms, these enzymes play a pivotal role in disease progression.Extracellular Enzymes Facilitating Tissue Invasion: Several bacterial pathogens secrete...

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Correction: Global mapping of sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BMC infectious diseases·2026

Same author

Being friendly to the skin microbiome: Experimental assessment.

Frontiers in microbiomes·2026

Same author

Point of care antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·2026

Same author

Insights into antibiotic resistance and prevalence of <i>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</i> isolated from clinical samples in Iran: A systematic review.

New microbes and new infections·2025

Same author

Global mapping of sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BMC infectious diseases·2025

Same author

Next generation sequencing as a panacea for antibiotic susceptibility testing: yea or nay?

Frontiers in public health·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus

Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: January 17, 2025

Not all Staphylococcus aureus strains are equally pathogenic.

Alex van Belkum¹, Damian C Melles

¹Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Discovery Medicine

|August 14, 2010

Summary

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage increases infection risk but reduces mortality. While carriers face more infections, non-carriers have a higher risk of dying from Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

More Related Videos

Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Published on: January 3, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus

Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: January 17, 2025

Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Published on: January 3, 2020

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Infectious Diseases
Human Pathogens

Background:

Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen.
Persistent nasal colonization with S. aureus is common and can last for years.
Endogenous sources account for 80% of severe staphylococcal infections, highlighting the importance of ecological balance during colonization.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage and the risk and severity of invasive infections.
To understand the implications of S. aureus colonization on patient outcomes, particularly in hospitalized individuals.

Main Methods:

The study likely involved observational analysis of patient data, comparing outcomes between S. aureus nasal carriers and non-carriers.
Epidemiological data on infection rates, bacteremia, and mortality associated with S. aureus were analyzed.

Main Results:

Nasal carriers of S. aureus have a threefold increased risk of developing bacteremia compared to non-carriers.
Despite increased infection frequency, the risk of mortality during a S. aureus bacteremic episode is significantly higher in non-carriers.
S. aureus carriage predisposes individuals to infections, but the outcomes are less severe in carriers than in non-carriers.

Conclusions:

Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization is a critical factor influencing both infection susceptibility and disease severity.
Maintaining ecological balance during S. aureus colonization is crucial for mitigating severe health consequences.
While carriage increases the likelihood of infection, it may confer a protective effect against mortality from invasive staphylococcal disease.