Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Time-Lapse Epifluorescence Microscopy Imaging of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Heterogeneous Phenotypes
07:44

Time-Lapse Epifluorescence Microscopy Imaging of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Heterogeneous Phenotypes

Published on: February 14, 2025

1.6K

Transcriptional Reprogramming of Staphylococcus aureus in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Reveals a Persistence-Associated

Lorena Tuchscherr1, Stefan Monecke2,3,4, Mateusz Jundzill5

  • 1Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, 07740 Jena, Germany.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) bacteria show reduced virulence and altered metabolism, suggesting adaptation for long-term survival. This study reveals distinct bacterial gene expression linked to persistence in the CRS host environment.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a persistent inflammatory condition often involving Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Staphylococcus aureus isolates from CRS patients (CSS) display reduced glycolytic activity and cytotoxicity, indicating a persistence phenotype.
  • Understanding bacterial adaptation in CRS is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the transcriptomic differences between Staphylococcus aureus isolates from CRS patients and healthy carriers.
  • To identify specific gene expression patterns associated with bacterial persistence in the CRS environment.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative RNA sequencing was performed on CSS isolates and control isolates (MIN) from healthy individuals.
  • Gene expression profiles were analyzed, focusing on virulence and metabolic pathways.

Main Results:

  • CSS isolates exhibited significantly lower expression of genes involved in canonical virulence pathways compared to MIN isolates, especially during early growth.
  • Transcriptomic profiles suggest a shift towards metabolic adaptations supporting survival in the chronically inflamed sinus.
  • Distinct transcriptional states indicate potential host-driven selection for persistence phenotypes.

Conclusions:

  • Staphylococcus aureus in CRS patients adopts a distinct transcriptional state characterized by reduced acute virulence and enhanced metabolic strategies for persistence.
  • The CRS host environment likely influences bacterial behavior, selecting for phenotypes that promote long-term survival.
  • Findings provide insights into chronic Staphylococcus aureus infections and potential therapeutic targets for disrupting persistence.
Keywords:
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)chronic infectionschronic rhinosinusitis (CRS)

More Related Videos

Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus08:32

Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: January 17, 2025

1.3K
Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes12:27

Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Published on: January 3, 2020

6.8K

Related Concept Videos

Transcription01:10

Transcription

Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
157.1K
Transcription01:17

Transcription

Transcription is the synthesis of RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in correctly synthesizing messenger RNA (mRNA). Transcriptional regulation is responsible for the differentiation of different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds of RNA Molecules
In eukaryotes,...
33.6K
Transcription Factors02:16

Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
82.9K
Eukaryotic Transcription Inhibitors01:52

Eukaryotic Transcription Inhibitors

Certain biochemical processes, such as embryonic development and cell growth regulation, depend on the repression of specific genes. DNA binding proteins known as eukaryotic transcription inhibitors regulate the repression of gene expression in eukaryotes. The presence of these inhibitors at the required location and time in the cell is triggered by the presence of hormones and additional signals from other cells.
Eukaryotic transcription inhibitors usually contain two distinct domains, a...
11.1K
Eukaryotic Transcription Activators02:42

Eukaryotic Transcription Activators

Transcription activators are proteins that promote the transcription of genes from DNA to RNA. In most cases, these proteins contain two separate domains ‒ a domain that binds to DNA and a domain for activating transcription; however, in some cases, a single domain is responsible for both binding and activation of transcription, as seen in the glucocorticoid receptor and MyoD.
The binding domains are capable of recognizing and interacting with regulatory sequences on the DNA. These...
12.9K
Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
7.8K