Growth-phase dependence of susceptibility to antimicrobial peptides in Staphylococcus aureus

• DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.044727-0
• Publication Date: 2011-03-11T02:52:53Z
• Authors: Miki Matsuo; Yuichi Oogai; Fuminori Kato; Motoyuki Sugai; Hitoshi Komatsuzawa
• Keywords: Surface charge

Bacterial cell surface charge is responsible for susceptibility to cationic antimicrobial peptides. Previously, Staphylococcus aureus dlt and mprF were identified as factors conferring a positive upon surfaces. In this study, we investigated the regulation of during growth. Using group S. MW2 mutants, which are gene-inactivated in 15 types two-component systems (TCSs), tested dltC expression found that two TCSs, aps agr, associated with growth phase-dependent manner. The first these, aps, had already been sensor peptides regulator expression, was expressed strongly exponential phase, while its significantly suppressed by agr stationary resulting higher phase lower phase. Since both affected charge, antibiotics changed Furthermore, ability sense only functioned These results suggest tightly regulated aureus.