title: Role for dnaK locus in tolerance of multiple stresses in Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Heat-shock proteins are essential for stress tolerance and allowing organisms to survive conditions that cause protein unfolding. The role of the Staphylococcus aureus DnaK system in tolerance of various stresses was studied by disruption of dnaK by partial deletion and insertion of a kanamycin gene cassette. Deletion of dnaK in S. aureus strain COL resulted in poor growth at temperatures of 37 degrees C and above, and reduced carotenoid production. The mutant strain also exhibited increased susceptibility to oxidative and cell-wall-active antibiotic stress conditions. In addition, the mutant strain had slower rates of autolysis, suggesting a correlation between DnaK and functional expression of staphylococcal autolysins. Deletion of dnaK also resulted in a decrease in the ability of the organism to survive in a mouse host during a systemic infection. In summary, the DnaK system in S. aureus plays a significant role in the survival of S. aureus under various stress conditions.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology, A. T. Still University of Health Sciences, Kirksville, MO 63501, USA.
authors.forename: Vineet K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA.
authors.forename: Sugunya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Utaida
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology, A. T. Still University of Health Sciences, Kirksville, MO 63501, USA.
authors.forename: Letitia S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Jayaswal
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology, A. T. Still University of Health Sciences, Kirksville, MO 63501, USA.
authors.forename: Neal R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001433:Bacteriolysis; D005260:Female; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018869:Heat-Shock Response; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D051379:Mice; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D010068:Oxacillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D008712:Methicillin; D010068:Oxacillin