Expression of Type II Toxin/Antitoxin systems and ClpP protease of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus under stress condition

Abstract

BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen causing chronic to persistent infections. Amongst diverse factors of pathogenesis in bacteria, toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems have a potential to be presented as an antibacterial target due to their participation in cell physiology including stress responses. This study was conducted to determine the effects of thermal and oxidative stresses on expression of type II Toxin/Antitoxin systems and ClpP protease in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).Materials/methodsExpression of type II TA genes (mazF, relE1, relE2 and immA) and clpP gene in MRSA strain were evaluated following thermal and oxidative stresses by qRT-PCR techniques.ResultsThe cell viability was constant across thermal stress, whereas oxidative stress induction resulted in a significant reduction in the growth of MRSA strain. The result of RT-qPCR revealed that TA genes were expressed in stress conditions and expression of mazF gene increased under both thermal and oxidative stresses in MRSA strain.ConclusionsBased on our results, the MRSA strain responded to stress by altering the expression level of TA genes. In overall, TA system could be an antibacterial target in S. aureus that can revitalize the research on TA systems in this pathogen.