Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 20, 2025

Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: January 17, 2025
Pathogenicity Islands and Their Role in Staphylococcal Biology
1NYU School of Medicine, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine and Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York, NY 10016.
None:
Pathogenicity islands are members of a vast collection of genomic islands that encode important virulence, antibiotic resistance and other accessory functions and have a critical role in bacterial gene transfer. Staphylococcus aureus is host to a large family of such islands, known as SaPIs, which encode super antigen and other virulence determinants, are mobilized by helper phages and transferred at extremely high frequencies. They benefit their host cells by interfering with phage predation and enhancing horizontal gene transfer. This chapter describes their life cycle, the bases of their phage interference mechanisms, their transfer system and their conversion to antibacterial agents for treatment ofstaphylococcal infections.
Related Concept Videos
Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
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...
Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

