Staphylococcal alpha-phenol soluble modulins contribute to neutrophil lysis after phagocytosis.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus community-acquired (CA) MRSA strains are highly virulent and can cause infections in otherwise healthy individuals. The most important mechanism of the host for clearing S. aureus is phagocytosis by neutrophils and subsequent killing of the pathogen. Especially CA-MRSA strains are very efficient in circumventing this neutrophil killing. Interestingly, only a relative small number of virulence factors have been associated with CA-MRSA, one of which are the phenol soluble modulins (PSMs). We have recently shown that the PSMs are functionally inhibited by serum lipoproteins, indicating that PSMs may exert their cytolytic function primarily in the intracellular environment. To further investigate the intracellular role of the PSMs we measured the effect of the α-type and

SUBMITTER: Surewaard BG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4784422 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature