Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell functions required for invasion of Staphylococcus aureus into bovine mammary...

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cellular functions required for invasion of Staphylococcus aureus into bovine mammary epithelial cells were investigated. Two strains of S. aureus isolated from milk of cows with clinical mastitis, a primary bovine mammary epithelial cell culture and a bovine mammary epithelial cell line were pretreated with inhibitors of nucleic acid and protein synthesis. In addition, mammary epithelial cells were pretreated with inhibitors of receptor-mediated endocytosis and oxidative phosphorylation. Protein and nucleic acid synthesis in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and eukaryotic oxidative phosphorylation were required for invasion of S. aureus into mammary epithelial cells. Inhibition of receptor-mediated endocytosis caused a significant reduction in the number of invading S. aureus. These results suggest that invasion of S. aureus into bovine mammary epithelial cells occurs through a receptor-mediated endocytosis process. Furthermore, eukaryotic oxidative metabolism, protein synthesis and nucleic acid synthesis as well as bacterial protein synthesis are required for bacterial invasion.