title: Requirement of the agr locus for colony spreading of Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: The important human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is known to spread on soft agar plates. Here, we show that colony spreading of S. aureus involves the agr quorum-sensing system. This finding can be related to the agr-dependent expression of biosurfactants, such as phenol-soluble modulins, suggesting a connection between spreading motility and virulence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Groningen, RB Groningen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsompanidou
authors.forename: Mark J J B
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sibbald
authors.forename: Monika A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chlebowicz
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dreisbach
authors.forename: Jaap Willem
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Back
authors.forename: Jan Maarten
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Dijl
authors.forename: Girbe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buist
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Denham
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000502:physiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C095698:Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D015534:Trans-Activators