Interaction of Staphylococcus aureus persister cells with the host when in a persister state and following awakening.

ABSTRACT: Persister cells, a tolerant cell sub-population, are commonly associated with chronic and recurrent infections. However, little is known about their ability to actually initiate or establish an infection, become virulent and cause pathogenicity within a host. Here we investigated whether Staphylococcus aureus persister cells initiate an infection and are recognized by macrophages, while in a persister cell status, and upon awakening due to exposure to cis-2-decenoic acid (cis-DA). Our results show that S. aureus persister cells are not able to initiate infections in A. thaliana and present significantly reduced virulence towards C. elegans compared to total populations. In contrast, awakened S. aureus persister cells are able to initiate infections in A. thaliana and in C. elegans albeit,

SUBMITTER: Mina EG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4979210 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature