Subinhibitory concentrations of protein synthesis-inhibiting antibiotics promote increased expression of the agr virulence regulator and production of phenol-soluble modulin cytolysins in community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Tetracycline, clindamycin, and other protein synthesis inhibitors at subinhibitory concentrations significantly increased the expression of the pivotal virulence regulator agr and production of the agr-regulated cytolytic phenol-soluble modulins in the community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) strain USA300. Our results suggest that such protein synthesis inhibitors may exacerbate the progression of CA-MRSA disease when applied at concentrations that are too low or when treating infections caused by strains resistant to those antibiotics.
Joo
Hwang-Soo
HS
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Chan
June L
JL
Cheung
Gordon Y C
GY
Otto
Michael
M
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014774:Virulence
C095698:Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D015534:Trans-Activators; C025971:staphylococcal delta toxin