title: Method for screening compounds that influence virulence gene expression in Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: We present a simple assay to examine effects of compounds on virulence gene expression in the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. The assay employs transcriptional reporter strains carrying lacZ fused to central virulence genes. Compounds affecting virulence gene expression and activity of the agr locus are scored based on color change in the presence of a chromogenic beta-galactosidase substrate. The assay can be used to screen for novel antivirulence compounds from many different sources, such as fungi, as demonstrated here.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Stigboejlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Kristian F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Dorte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frees
authors.forename: Thomas O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ingmer
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D007763:Lac Operon / Q000235:genetics; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C095698:Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D015534:Trans-Activators; D037521:Virulence Factors; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D005947:Glucose