Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis in diverse host environments

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is an eminent human pathogen that can colonize the human host and cause severe life-threatening illnesses. This bacterium can reside in and infect a wide range of host tissues, ranging from superficial surfaces like the skin to deeper tissues such as in the gastrointestinal tract, heart and bones. Due to its multifaceted lifestyle, S. aureus uses complex regulatory networks to sense diverse signals that enable it to adapt to different environments and modulate virulence. In this minireview, we explore well-characterized environmental and host cues that S. aureus responds to and describe how this pathogen modulates virulence in response to these signals. Lastly, we highlight therapeutic approaches undertaken by several groups to inhibit both signaling and the cognate regulators that sense and transmit these signals downstream.

Keywords: MRSA; Staphylococcus aureus; gene regulation; pathogenesis.

Figure 1.

Summary of host signals encountered by S. aureus and the response to these cues. Staphylococcus aureus senses ‘self’ or external environmental cues via various sensors and regulators that transmit these signals to alter metabolism and virulence.