title: Methicillin resistance and the biofilm phenotype in Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Antibiotic resistance and biofilm-forming capacity contribute to the success of Staphylococcus aureus as a human pathogen in both healthcare and community settings. These virulence factors do not function independently of each other and the biofilm phenotype expressed by clinical isolates of S. aureus is influenced by acquisition of the methicillin resistance gene mecA. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strains commonly produce an icaADBC operon-encoded polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA)-dependent biofilm. In contrast, the release of extracellular DNA (eDNA) and cell surface expression of a number of sortase-anchored proteins, and the major autolysin have been implicated in the biofilm phenotype of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates. Expression of high level methicillin resistance in a laboratory MSSA strain resulted in (i) repression of PIA-mediated biofilm production, (ii) down-regulation of the accessory gene regulator (Agr) system, and (iii) attenuation of virulence in murine sepsis and device infection models. Here we review the mechanisms of MSSA and MRSA biofilm production and the relationships between antibiotic resistance, biofilm and virulence gene regulation in S. aureus.
authors: Department of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
authors: Hannah
authors: H
authors: McCarthy
authors: Department of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
authors: Justine K
authors: JK
authors: Rudkin
authors: Department of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
authors: Nikki S
authors: NS
authors: Black
authors: Department of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Gallagher
authors: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Eoghan
authors: E
authors: O'Neill
authors: Department of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
authors: James P
authors: JP
authors: O'Gara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins
keywords: Atl; LPXTG proteins; PIA; Staphylococcus aureus; biofilm; c-di-AMP; mecA; methicillin resistance