Aureusimines in Staphylococcus aureus are not involved in virulence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recently, dipeptide aureusimines were reported to activate expression of staphylococcal virulence genes, such as alpha-hemolysin, and increase S. aureus virulence. Surprisingly, most of the virulence genes affected by aureusimines form part of the regulon of the SaeRS two component system (TCS), raising the possibility that SaeRS might be directly or indirectly involved in the aureusimine-dependent signaling process.

Methodology/principal findings

Using HPLC analyses, we confirmed that a transposon mutant of ausA, the gene encoding the aureusimine dipeptide synthesis enzyme, does not produce dipeptides. However, the transposon mutant showed normal hemolysis activity and alpha-hemolysin/SaeP production. Furthermore, the P1 promoter of the sae operon, one of the tar

SUBMITTER: Sun F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3012096 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature