Characterization of the Staphylococcus aureus heat shock, cold shock, stringent, and SOS responses and their effects on log-phase mRNA turnover.

ABSTRACT: Despite its being a leading cause of nosocomal and community-acquired infections, surprisingly little is known about Staphylococcus aureus stress responses. In the current study, Affymetrix S. aureus GeneChips were used to define transcriptome changes in response to cold shock, heat shock, stringent, and SOS response-inducing conditions. Additionally, the RNA turnover properties of each response were measured. Each stress response induced distinct biological processes, subsets of virulence factors, and antibiotic determinants. The results were validated by real-time PCR and stress-mediated changes in antimicrobial agent susceptibility. Collectively, many S. aureus stress-responsive functions are conserved across bacteria, whereas others are unique to the organism. Sets of small stable RNA

SUBMITTER: Anderson KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1595530 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature