title: Functional characterization of the sigmaB-dependent yabJ-spoVG operon in Staphylococcus aureus: role in methicillin and glycopeptide resistance.
abstract: The alternative sigma factor sigma(B) of Staphylococcus aureus controls the expression of multiple genes, including virulence determinants and global regulators; promotes capsule production; and increases the resistance levels of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and glycopeptide-intermediate-resistant S. aureus (GISA) strains. We show here that deletion of the sigma(B)-controlled yabJ-spoVG operon, which codes for potential downstream regulators of sigma(B), abolished capsule synthesis and reduced resistance in MRSA and GISA to the same extent that sigma(B) inactivation did. Introduction of the yabJ-spoVG operon in trans restored the original phenotype. By genetic manipulations, we show that SpoVG but not YabJ is required for complementation. We therefore postulate that SpoVG is the major factor of the yabJ-spoVG operon required in S. aureus for capsule formation and antibiotic resistance.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, Gloriastr. 32, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schulthess
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Homerova
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goerke
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolz
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kormanec
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berger-Bächi
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bischoff
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009876:Operon; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006020:Glycopeptides; C079011:SigB protein, Bacteria; D012808:Sigma Factor; D008712:Methicillin