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Updated: Feb 9, 2026
Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: March 10, 2017
Essential genes of the macrophage response to Staphylococcus aureus exposure
Aixia Sun1, Hongwei Zhang1, Feng Pang1
11Department of Clinical Laboratory, Liaocheng People's Hospital, 67 West Dongchang Road, Liaocheng, 252000 Shandong Province People's Republic of China.
Background:
Although significant advances have been made in understanding the mechanisms of macrophage response to Staphylococcus aureus infection, the molecular details are still elusive. Identification of the essential genes and biological processes of macrophages that are specifically changed at different durations of S. aureus exposure is of great clinical significance.
Methods:
We aimed to identify the significantly changed genes and biological processes of S. aureus-exposed macrophages. We systematically analyzed the macrophage gene expression profile GSE 13670 database with 8 h, 24 h or 48 h S. aureus infection. The results were further confirmed by western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses.
Results:
After 8 h of S. aureus infection, the expression of 624 genes was significantly changed. Six hundred thirteen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified after 24 h of S. aureus infection. Two hundred fifty-three genes were significantly changed after 48 h of S. aureus infection. STAT1 was consistently up-regulated in these three treatments. TP53, JAK2, CEBPA, STAT3, MYC, CTNNB1 and PRKCA were only identified in the 8 h or 24 h S. aureus infection groups. CTNNB1 and PRKCA were for the first time identified as potential essential genes in S. aureus infection of macrophages. In the Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis, the defense response was shown to be the most significantly changed biological process among all processes; KEGG pathway analysis identified the JAK-STAT signaling pathway involved in early infection.
Conclusions:
Our systematic analysis identified unique gene expression profiles and specifically changed biological processes of the macrophage response to different S. aureus exposure times.
Insights
This study reveals distinct gene expression changes in macrophages during Staphylococcus aureus infection over time. Key genes and the JAK-STAT pathway are crucial for the early defense response.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Understanding macrophage response to Staphylococcus aureus infection is crucial for clinical significance.
- Molecular details of macrophage-S. aureus interactions remain elusive.
- Identifying genes and processes altered by S. aureus exposure is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify significantly changed genes and biological processes in macrophages exposed to S. aureus.
- To analyze gene expression profiles at different time points of infection.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of macrophage response to S. aureus.
Main Methods:
- Systematic analysis of the macrophage gene expression profile GSE 13670 database.
- Infection time points included 8, 24, and 48 hours.
- Results validated by western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
Main Results:
- Significant gene expression changes observed at 8 (624 genes), 24 (613 genes), and 48 (253 genes) hours post-infection.
- STAT1 was consistently upregulated; TP53, JAK2, CEBPA, STAT3, MYC, CTNNB1, and PRKCA were identified in early infection.
- CTNNB1 and PRKCA were newly identified as potential essential genes in S. aureus macrophage infection.
- Gene Ontology analysis highlighted defense response as a key biological process.
- KEGG pathway analysis implicated the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in early infection.
Conclusions:
- Distinct gene expression profiles characterize macrophage response to S. aureus at different infection durations.
- Specific biological processes, including defense response and JAK-STAT signaling, are altered.
- This study provides insights into the dynamic molecular mechanisms of macrophage response to S. aureus.
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