Selection of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> in a murine nasopharyngeal colonization model.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization is a risk factor for infection. A large proportion of the population are identified as potential S. aureus carriers yet we only partially understand the repertoire of genetic factors that promote long-term nasal colonization. Here we present a murine model of nasopharyngeal colonization that requires a low S. aureus inoculum and is amenable to experimental evolution approaches. We used this model to experimentally evolve S. aureus using successive passages in the nasopharynx to identify those genetic loci under selection. After 3 cycles of colonization, mutations were identified in mannitol, sorbitol, arginine, nitrite and lactate metabolism genes promoting key pathways in nasal colonization. Stress responses were identif

SUBMITTER: Salgado BAB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9386156 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature