title: Role of Staphylococcus aureus catalase in niche competition against Streptococcus pneumoniae.
abstract: Nasal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus is a major predisposing factor for subsequent infection. Recent reports of increased S. aureus colonization among children receiving pneumococcal vaccine implicate Streptococcus pneumoniae as an important competitor for the same niche. Since S. pneumoniae uses H2O2 to kill competing bacteria, we hypothesized that oxidant defense could play a significant role in promoting S. aureus colonization of the nasal mucosa. Using targeted mutagenesis, we showed that S. aureus expression of catalase contributes significantly to the survival of this pathogen in the presence of S. pneumoniae both in vitro and in a murine model of nasal cocolonization.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunobiology Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
authors.forename: Bonggoo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nizet
authors.forename: George Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D009154:Mutation; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase