Role of the accessory gene regulator agr in community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT: The molecular basis underlying the pathogenic success of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is not completely understood, but differential gene expression has been suggested to account at least in part for the high virulence of CA-MRSA strains. Here, we show that the agr gene regulatory system has a crucial role in the development of skin infections in the most prevalent CA-MRSA strain USA300. Importantly, our data indicate that this is due to discrepancies between the agr regulon of CA-MRSA and those of hospital-associated MRSA and laboratory strains. In particular, agr regulation in strain USA300 led to exceptionally strong expression of toxins and exoenzymes, upregulation of fibrinogen-binding proteins, increased capacity to bind fibrinogen, and i

SUBMITTER: Cheung GY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3088142 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature