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Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus
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Urease promotes pH homeostasis and growth of Staphylococcus aureus in skin-like conditions.

Flavia G Costa1, Alexander R Horswill1,2

  • 1Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.

Journal of Bacteriology
|October 23, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Staphylococcus aureus uses urease to manage pH on skin by breaking down urea into ammonia. This study identifies urease

Keywords:
Staphylococcus aureusacid tolerancemicrobial physiologypH homeostasisskin colonizationurease

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Medical Mycology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of skin infections.
  • Understanding S. aureus colonization on human skin is crucial.
  • Human skin is acidic and contains urea from eccrine glands.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the role of urease in S. aureus skin colonization.
  • Characterize the putative urea transporter UreT in S. aureus.
  • Assess the efficacy of urease inhibitors for S. aureus.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an in vitro model of the human skin surface environment.
  • Studied the methicillin-resistant USA300 strain (MRSA) LAC.
  • Employed urease inhibitor fluorofamide.

Main Results:

  • Urease increases extracellular pH and ammonium production in S. aureus.
  • The urea transporter UreT is essential for optimal ammonia generation.
  • Fluorofamide effectively inhibits S. aureus urease activity.

Conclusions:

  • Urea metabolism plays a significant role in S. aureus skin colonization and pH homeostasis.
  • UreT is a key transporter for urea metabolism in S. aureus.
  • Urease inhibition presents a potential strategy against S. aureus skin infections.