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Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes
12:27

Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Published on: January 3, 2020

Staphylococcus aureus produces membrane-derived vesicles that induce host cell death

Mamata Gurung1, Dong Chan Moon, Chi Won Choi

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.

Plos One
|November 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Staphylococcus aureus produces membrane-derived vesicles (MVs) that deliver effector proteins to host cells. These MVs induce apoptosis, highlighting their role in gram-positive bacterial pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Gram-negative bacteria utilize outer membrane vesicles for virulence factor delivery.
  • Limited knowledge exists regarding membrane-derived vesicles (MVs) in gram-positive bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate MV production by Staphylococcus aureus.
  • To determine the role of S. aureus MVs in host cell interaction and cytotoxicity.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of MV production in vitro and in vivo.
  • Proteomic analysis of S. aureus MVs.
  • Investigation of MV-host cell interaction and cytotoxicity assays.

Main Results:

  • S. aureus produces spherical nanovesicles (MVs) in vitro and during infection.
  • Proteomic analysis identified 143 proteins in S. aureus MVs.
  • MVs deliver protein A to host cells via cholesterol-rich domains, inducing apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • S. aureus MVs are actively produced and mediate effector molecule delivery.
  • Intact MVs are crucial for cytotoxicity, inducing apoptosis in host cells.
  • This study establishes S. aureus MVs as significant vehicles for bacterial pathogenesis.

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