The Staphylococcus aureus GGDEF domain-containing protein, GdpS, influences protein A gene expression in a cyclic diguanylic acid-independent manner.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen that is the principal cause of a variety of diseases, ranging from localized skin infections to life-threatening systemic infections. The success of the organism as a pathogen and its ability to cause such a wide range of infections are due to its extensive virulence factors. In this study, we identified the role of the only GGDEF domain protein (GdpS [GGDEF domain protein from Staphylococcus]) in the virulence of S. aureus NCTC8325. Inactivation of gdpS results in an alteration in the production of a range of virulence factors, such as serine and cysteine proteases, fibrinogen-binding proteins, and, specifically, protein A (Spa), a major surface protein of S. aureus. The transcript level of spa decreases eightfold in the gdpS mutant com

SUBMITTER: Shang F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2708582 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature