Air pollution induces Staphylococcus aureus USA300 respiratory tract colonization mediated by specific bacterial genetic responses involving the global virulence gene regulators Agr and Sae.

ABSTRACT: Exposure to particulate matter (PM), a major component of air pollution, is associated with exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease, and infectious diseases such as community-acquired pneumonia. Although PM can cause adverse health effects through direct damage to host cells, our previous study showed that PM can also impact bacterial behaviour by promoting in vivo colonization. In this study we describe the genetic mechanisms involved in the bacterial response to exposure to black carbon (BC), a constituent of PM found in most sources of air pollution. We show that Staphylococcus aureus strain USA300 LAC grown in BC prior to inoculation showed increased murine respiratory tract colonization and pulmonary invasion in vivo, as well as adhesion and invasion of human epithelial cells in v

SUBMITTER: Purves J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9796851 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature