Urease is an essential component of the acid response network of Staphylococcus aureus and is required for a persistent murine kidney infection.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus causes acute and chronic infections resulting in significant morbidity. Urease, an enzyme that generates NH3 and CO2 from urea, is key to pH homeostasis in bacterial pathogens under acidic stress and nitrogen limitation. However, the function of urease in S. aureus niche colonization and nitrogen metabolism has not been extensively studied. We discovered that urease is essential for pH homeostasis and viability in urea-rich environments under weak acid stress. The regulation of urease transcription by CcpA, Agr, and CodY was identified in this study, implying a complex network that controls urease expression in response to changes in metabolic flux. In addition, it was determined that the endogenous urea derived from arginine is not a significant contributor to the in

SUBMITTER: Zhou C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6343930 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature