Limited Adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus during Transition from Colonization to Invasive Infection

Staphylococcus aureus carriage is a risk factor for invasive infections. Unique genetic elements favoring the transition from colonizing to invasive phenotype have not yet been identified, and phenotypic adaptation traits are understudied. We therefore assessed phenotypic and genotypic profiles of 11 S. aureus isolate pairs sampled from colonized patients simultaneously suffering from invasive S. aureus infections. Ten out of 11 isolate pairs displayed the same spa and multilocus sequence type, suggesting colonization as an origin for the invasive infection. Systematic analysis of colonizing and invasive isolate pairs showed similar adherence, hemolysis, reproductive fitness properties, antibiotic tolerance, and virulence in a Galleria mellonella infection model, as well as minimal genetic differences. Our results provide insights into the similar phenotypes associated with limited adaptation between colonizing and invasive isolates. Disruption of the physical barriers of mucosa or skin was identified in the majority of patients, further emphasizing colonization as a major risk factor for invasive disease. IMPORTANCE S. aureus is a major pathogen of humans, causing a wide range of diseases. The difficulty to develop a vaccine and antibiotic treatment failure warrant the exploration of novel treatment strategies. Asymptomatic colonization of the human nasal passages is a major risk factor for invasive disease, and decolonization procedures have been effective in preventing invasive infections. However, the transition of S. aureus from a benign colonizer of the nasal passages to a major pathogen is not well understood, and both host and bacterial properties have been discussed as being relevant for this behavioral change. We conducted a thorough investigation of patient-derived strain pairs reflecting colonizing and invasive isolates in a given patient. Although we identified limited genetic adaptation in certain strains, as well as slight differences in adherence capacity among colonizing and invasive isolates, our work suggests that barrier breaches are a key event in the disease continuum of S. aureus.