The mutational landscape of Staphylococcus aureus during colonisation.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen and a commensal of the human nose and skin. Survival and persistence during colonisation are likely major drivers of S. aureus evolution. Here we applied a genome-wide mutation enrichment approach to a genomic dataset of 3060 S. aureus colonization isolates from 791 individuals. Despite limited within-host genetic diversity, we observed an excess of protein-altering mutations in metabolic genes, in regulators of quorum-sensing (agrA and agrC) and in known antibiotic targets (fusA, pbp2, dfrA and ileS). We demonstrated the phenotypic effect of multiple adaptive mutations in vitro, including changes in haemolytic activity, antibiotic susceptibility, and metabolite utilisation. Nitrogen metabolism showed the strongest evidence of adaptation

SUBMITTER: Coll F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11730646 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature