Phosphate sensing by PhoPR regulates the cytotoxicity of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus has evolved a complex regulatory network to coordinate expression of virulence factors, including cytolytic toxins, with host environmental signals. Central to this network are two-component systems (TCSs), in which a histidine kinase senses an external signal and activates a response regulator via phosphorylation, leading to changes in gene expression. Using a comprehensive screen of transposon mutants in each of the non-essential histidine kinase and response regulator genes in S. aureus, we demonstrate that 11 of these 16 systems regulate cytotoxicity. Further characterization of the phosphate-sensing PhoPR system revealed that PhoP affects cytotoxicity in a manner mediated through the Agr quorum-sensing system. Notably, we found that unphosphorylated

SUBMITTER: Palk N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12404567 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature