title: Adaptation beyond the stress response: cell structure dynamics and population heterogeneity in Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus, a major opportunistic pathogen responsible for a broad spectrum of infections, naturally inhabits the human nasal cavity in about 30% of the population. The unique adaptive potential displayed by S. aureus has made it one of the major causes of nosocomial infections today, emphasized by the rapid emergence of multiple antibiotic-resistant strains over the past few decades. The uncanny ability to adapt to harsh environments is essential for staphylococcal persistence in infections or as a commensal, and a growing body of evidence has revealed critical roles in this process for cellular structural dynamics, and population heterogeneity. These two exciting areas of research are now being explored to identify new molecular mechanisms governing these adaptational strategies.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305–8575, Japan. morikawa@sakura.cc.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morikawa
authors.forename: Ryosuke L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ohniwa
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeyasu
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Msadek
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial