Transcriptome characterisation of S. aureus mutant strains
RNAseq was performed to probe the regulon of the S. aureus DesKR-like TCS using WT to compare with the desR SNP variant, plus desR allelic replacement and SAOUHSC_01312 mutants. From this analysis, it was identified that the five genes SAOUHSC_01311-01312-desKR operon and SAOUHSC_01315 were very highly expressed in the desR SNP variant and these five genes are likely to comprise the DesKR-like regulon. Moreover, these data support the central role of this TCS in S. aureus resistance to the S. epidermidis B155 and B. flexus B003 antimicrobials. In contrast, transcriptome analysis of desR and transporter SAOUHSC_01312 mutant strains revealed hundreds of genes were differentially expressed in pathways associated with metabolism, virulence and regulations.