Pheromone cross-inhibition between Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Cross-inhibition by quorum-sensing pheromones between Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis was investigated using all known S. aureus agr pheromone subgroups. All S. aureus subgroups were sensitive towards the S. epidermidis pheromone, with the exception of the recently identified subgroup 4. The subgroup 4 pheromone was also the only S. aureus pheromone able to inhibit the S. epidermidis agr response. The close relation of subgroup 4 to subgroup 1 suggests that subgroup 4 might have evolved from subgroup 1 by mutation under the selective pressure of competition with S. epidermidis. The competition between S. aureus and S. epidermidis by means of quorum-sensing cross talk seems to be generally in favor of S. epidermidis, which might explain the predominance of S. epidermidis on the skin and in infections on indwelling medical devices.
Otto
M
M
Mikrobielle Genetik, Abteilung für Physikalische Biochemie, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. michael.otto@uni-tuebingen.de
Echner
H
H
Voelter
W
W
Götz
F
F
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010675:Pheromones / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
C095698:Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D010675:Pheromones; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C025971:staphylococcal delta toxin