An unconventional RNA-based thermosensor within the 5’ UTR of Staphylococcus aureus cidA

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214521
• Publication Date: 2019-04-01T17:26:31Z
• Authors: Hebaallaha Hussein; Megan E. Fris; Ahmed H. Salem; Richard E. Wiemels; Raeven A. Bastock; Francesco Righetti; Caleb A. Burke; Franz Narberhaus; Ronan K. Carroll; Nahla S. Hassan; Saleh A. Mohamed; Afaf S. Fahmy; Erin R. Murphy
• Keywords: Human pathogen

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterial pathogen of global concern and leading cause infections worldwide. Asymptomatic carriage S. on the skin in anterior nares common recognized as predisposing factor to invasive infection. Transition from state that infection often accompanied by temperature upshift approximately 33°C 37°C. Such shift known other pathogens influence gene expression, resulting increased production factors promote survival or virulence within host. One mechanism which bacteria modulate expression response regulatory activity RNA-based thermosensors, cis-acting riboregulators control translation efficiency. This study was designed identify characterize thermosensors aureus. Initially predicted silico analyses USA300 genome, reporter-based site-specific mutagenesis were performed demonstrate presence functional thermosensor 5’ UTR cidA, implicated biofilm formation pathogen. The nucleic sequence composing identified are sufficient confer temperature-dependent post-transcriptional regulation, predictably altered introduction mutations stabilize destabilize structure thermosensor. regulator both native host distally related species Escherichia coli, suggesting its independent host-specific factors. Interestingly, unlike majority characterized date, cidA facilitates target at lower temperatures. In addition characterization first significant aureus, it highlights diversity function this important class ribo-regulators.