Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

06:36
Improved Enzyme Protection Assay to Study Staphylococcus aureus Internalization and Intracellular Efficacy of Antimicrobial Compounds
Published on: September 8, 2021
[Staphylococcus and its counter-measures against epidermal antimicrobial peptides]
C Piérard-Franchimont1, G E Piérard
1Service de Dermatopathologie, CHU de Liège, Belgique.
Revue Medicale De Liege
|June 8, 2012
Summary
Staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant strains, colonize skin and cause infections. Host antimicrobial peptides attempt to limit this, but some bacteria can evade these defenses.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Dermatology
Context:
- Staphylococci are common colonizers of mucocutaneous sites.
- These bacteria cause significant nosocomial and community-associated skin infections.
- Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRSA) are a major public health concern.
Purpose:
- To explore the interaction between staphylococci and host epidermal antimicrobial peptides.
- To understand mechanisms by which staphylococci colonize and infect skin.
- To investigate host defense evasion strategies employed by staphylococci.
Summary:
- Staphylococci frequently colonize skin and mucous membranes, leading to various infections.
- Epidermal antimicrobial peptides are key components of innate immunity, aiming to control bacterial colonization.
- Certain staphylococcal strains possess mechanisms to overcome or bypass these host-derived antimicrobial defenses.
Impact:
- This research sheds light on the complex interplay between bacterial pathogens and host immunity.
- Understanding bacterial evasion strategies can inform the development of new therapeutic approaches.
- Findings contribute to the knowledge of skin infections and antimicrobial resistance.
Related Concept Videos
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...
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...
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...
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...
Surface Membrane Barriers
The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
Antimicrobial Proteins
Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
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...
