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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Improved Enzyme Protection Assay to Study Staphylococcus aureus Internalization and Intracellular Efficacy of Antimicrobial Compounds

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Published on: September 8, 2021

Staphylococcus aureus adapts to exploit collagen-derived proline during chronic infection.

Andreacarola Urso^1,2,3, Ian R Monk⁴, Ying-Tsun Cheng^1,3

¹Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

Nature Microbiology

|August 12, 2024

Summary

Staphylococcus aureus utilizes host collagen, releasing proline for energy. This metabolic adaptation helps bacteria outcompete others in chronic lung infections, suggesting fibrosis promotes bacterial survival.

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Last Updated: Jun 17, 2025

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A Tandem Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-based Approach for Metabolite Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus

A Tandem Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-based Approach for Metabolite Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: March 28, 2017

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Pulmonary Medicine
Bacterial Pathogenesis

Background:

Staphylococcus aureus is a significant cause of lung infections, but current vaccines are ineffective.
Understanding bacterial adaptation mechanisms is crucial for developing new treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the metabolic adaptations of Staphylococcus aureus during chronic pulmonary infections.
To identify host-derived factors that support bacterial survival and out-competition.

Main Methods:

Transcriptomic analysis of clinical S. aureus isolates from initial and chronic infections.
Metabolomics of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
Fibroblast infection assays and bacterial growth experiments.
Analysis of bacterial mutant strains.

Main Results:

Chronic infection isolates showed increased expression of collagenase and proline transporter genes.
Airway fibroblasts produce collagen during S. aureus infection.
Degradation of host collagen by bacterial collagenase releases proline, which S. aureus imports for oxidative metabolism.
Proline metabolism provides a competitive metabolic advantage to host-adapted S. aureus.

Conclusions:

Staphylococcus aureus adapts to the host environment by utilizing fibroblast-derived collagen for proline, fueling its metabolism.
This proline metabolic pathway enhances bacterial fitness and out-competition, particularly in fibrotic lung environments.
Airway repair and fibrosis create a niche favoring S. aureus adaptation and persistent infection.