Glucose-induced active lysogeny of prophage ΦSa3XN promotes Staphylococcus aureus virulence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Active lysogeny is a newly characterized mechanism that the dynamic integration and excision of prophages serve as molecular switches to coordinately regulate bacterial gene expression without generating progeny virions. The Sa3int family phages, the most prevalent prophages in Staphylococcus aureus, specifically integrate into the β-toxin-coding gene hlb. While infection conditions favor the loss of Sa3int phages and the emergence of Hlb-producing variants, highlighting their potential for active lysogeny, the environmental cues and underlying mechanisms controlling the peculiar life cycle of Sa3int phages remain largely unexplored.

Methods

In this study, we identified a Sa3int phage, designated ΦSa3XN, from the methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain XN108. The a

SUBMITTER: Huang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12607152 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature