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Updated: May 5, 2026
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Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen
Published on: March 21, 2011
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Staphylococcus aureus utilizes vimentin to internalize human keratinocytes
Kyoungok Jang1, Hangeun Kim2, Dobin Choi3
1Therapeutic Research Group, Antibacterial Resistance Laboratory, Institute Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|March 10, 2025
Summary
Staphylococcus aureus infection triggers human skin cells to increase vimentin expression. This vimentin aids bacterial entry and infection, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Vimentin is a cytoskeletal protein crucial for cell functions.
- Bacteria and viruses utilize vimentin for cellular entry.
- The interaction between Staphylococcus aureus and vimentin is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism of vimentin expression in human keratinocytes during S. aureus infection.
- To determine the role of vimentin in S. aureus pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Western blot (WB), Flow cytometry, Immunofluorescence (IF) staining.
- Use of neutralizing antibodies, small interference (si) RNA, and vimentin overexpression vector.
- Analysis of physical interaction between vimentin and S. aureus.
Main Results:
- Live S. aureus induced vimentin expression in HaCaT cells via Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling.
- S. aureus-induced vimentin was secreted extracellularly and bound to the bacteria.
- Vimentin binding accelerated intracellular S. aureus infection.
Conclusions:
- Elucidated the mechanism of vimentin expression and its role in S. aureus infection of keratinocytes.
- Vimentin is involved in S. aureus-mediated intracellular infection.
- Vimentin represents a potential therapeutic target for S. aureus infections.
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