Host interception of bacterial communication signals.
Pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus employs a cell-to-cell communication system to control virulence factor expression in the host during infection. In this issue, Peterson et al. (2008) report that host lipoproteins can sequester the S. aureus communication signal and antagonize virulence factor expression and pathogenesis in a murine model of infection.
Horswill
Alexander R
AR
Department of Microbiology, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. alex-horswill@uiowa.edu
Nauseef
William M
WM
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000472:pathogenicity*
C414532:AgrD protein, Staphylococcus; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic