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Microscopy-based phenotypic profiling of infection by Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates reveals intracellular

Ines Rodrigues Lopes1,2, Laura Maria Alcantara1, Ricardo Jorge Silva2

  • 1RNA & Infection Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

Nature Communications
|November 23, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Staphylococcus aureus frequently lives inside host cells, a behavior that can lead to severe infections. This study found that a specific bacterial enzyme deficiency is linked to increased intracellular growth and worse outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen.
  • Its role as a facultative intracellular pathogen is debated.
  • Understanding intracellular behavior is crucial for infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the intracellular lifestyle of Staphylococcus aureus.
  • To analyze the interaction of diverse S. aureus isolates with host cells.
  • To identify bacterial factors influencing intracellular survival and replication.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized fluorescence microscopy and automated image analysis.
  • Infected four host cell types with 191 S. aureus isolates.
  • Performed multiparametric analysis at five time points post-infection.

Main Results:

  • Nearly all S. aureus isolates were internalized by host cells.
  • A significant proportion replicated and persisted intracellularly.
  • Distinct intracellular profiles were observed in professional vs. non-professional phagocytes.
  • Isolates with high intracellular replication and delayed host death were deficient in staphopain A.

Conclusions:

  • The intracellular lifestyle of S. aureus is a common feature of infections.
  • Staphopain A deficiency is associated with enhanced intracellular proliferation and virulence.
  • Findings have implications for developing novel therapeutic strategies against staphylococcal infections.

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