Influence of iron and aeration on Staphylococcus aureus growth, metabolism, and transcription.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is a prominent nosocomial pathogen and a major cause of biomaterial-associated infections. The success of S. aureus as a pathogen is due in part to its ability to adapt to stressful environments. As an example, the transition from residing in the nares to residing in the blood or deeper tissues is accompanied by changes in the availability of nutrients and elements such as oxygen and iron. As such, nutrients, oxygen, and iron are important determinants of virulence factor synthesis in S. aureus. In addition to influencing virulence factor synthesis, oxygen and iron are critical cofactors in enzymatic and electron transfer reactions; thus, a change in iron or oxygen availability alters the bacterial metabolome. Changes in metabolism create intracellular signals that al

SUBMITTER: Ledala N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4054190 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature