Staphylococcus aureus metal acquisition in the mastitic mammary gland

Mastitis, resulting from mammary gland infection, is a common and painful disease associated with lactation. In addition to the impact on human and animal health, mastitis causes substantial economic losses in the dairy industry. Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of mastitis worldwide. Despite significant progress in understanding S. aureus pathogenesis in general, much remains to be learned regarding virulence factors relevant in the context of mastitis. This review outlines the molecular mechanisms by which S. aureus acquires essential metals such as iron, zinc, manganese, copper, cobalt and nickel within lactating mammary glands, while exposing areas where our current knowledge is deficient. Increased understanding of how these factors facilitate bacterial survival in the lactating mammary gland can provide therapeutic targets for more effective mastitis prevention and treatment.