Environmental pH is a key modulator of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm development under predation by the virulent phage phiIPLA-RODI.

ABSTRACT: Previous work had shown that, in some Staphylococcus aureus strains, low concentrations of the virulent phage vB_SauM_phiIPLA-RODI (phiIPLA-RODI) promoted the formation of DNA-rich biofilms, whose cells exhibited significant transcriptional differences compared to an uninfected control. This study aimed to dissect the sequence of events leading to these changes. Analysis of phage propagation throughout biofilm development revealed that the number of phage particles increased steadily up to a certain point and then declined. This partial phage inactivation seemed to be a consequence of medium acidification due to glucose fermentation by the bacterium. Computer simulation of phage-host dynamics during biofilm development showed how even small differences in pH evolution can affect the outcom

SUBMITTER: Fernandez L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7852692 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature