Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
14:04

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

Susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to lysostaphin

M M Huber1, T W Huber

  • 1Laboratory Services, Olin E. Teague Veterans Center, Temple, Texas 76504.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|May 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates showed susceptibility to lysostaphin lysis, similar to methicillin-susceptible S. aureus controls. This finding is important for understanding MRSA susceptibility to antimicrobial agents.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant pathogen causing hospital-acquired infections.
  • Understanding the susceptibility of MRSA to various antimicrobial agents is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the susceptibility of clinical isolates of MRSA to lysis by lysostaphin.
  • To compare the lysostaphin susceptibility of MRSA with that of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA).

Main Methods:

  • One hundred and eleven MRSA isolates were collected from patients at the Olin E. Teague Veterans Center between March 1983 and April 1987.
  • Susceptibility to lysis by lysostaphin was assessed for all MRSA isolates.
  • Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates served as controls for comparison.

Main Results:

  • All 111 MRSA isolates demonstrated susceptibility to lysis by lysostaphin.
  • The degree of susceptibility to lysostaphin lysis in MRSA isolates was comparable to that observed in MSSA control strains.

Conclusions:

  • Lysostaphin effectively lyses both methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains.
  • These findings suggest that lysostaphin remains a potential therapeutic agent against MRSA infections, irrespective of methicillin resistance.

More Related Videos

Stress-induced Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing on a Chip12:41

Stress-induced Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing on a Chip

Published on: January 8, 2014

Improved Enzyme Protection Assay to Study Staphylococcus aureus Internalization and Intracellular Efficacy of Antimicrobial Compounds06:36

Improved Enzyme Protection Assay to Study Staphylococcus aureus Internalization and Intracellular Efficacy of Antimicrobial Compounds

Published on: September 8, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

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...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

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...
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis01:23

Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis

Bacterial cell walls are typically rigid structures composed mainly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like polymer that provides mechanical strength and maintains cell shape. The synthesis of peptidoglycan is a crucial process in bacterial growth and serves as a primary target for many antibiotics.Mechanism of Action of Beta-Lactam AntibioticsBeta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in actively growing cells. These antibiotics share a characteristic four-membered...
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis01:25

Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

Aminoglycosides constitute a highly potent class of bactericidal antibiotics that exert their antimicrobial effects by targeting the bacterial ribosome, specifically disrupting protein synthesis. These polycationic molecules consist of amino-modified sugars linked via glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol core such as 2-deoxystreptamine or streptamine. Their strong positive charges facilitate tight binding to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily at the 16S...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

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...