Prevalence of genes encoding extracellular proteases inStaphylococcus aureus— important targets triggering immune responsein vivo

Abstract

Proteases of Staphylococcus aureus have long been considered to function as important virulence factors, although direct evidence of the role of particular enzymes remains incomplete and elusive. Here, we sought to provide a collective view of the prevalence of extracellular protease genes in genomes of commensal and pathogenic strains of S. aureus and their expression in the course of human and mouse infection. Data on V8 protease, staphopains A and B, aureolysin, and the recently described and poorly characterized group of six Spl proteases are provided. A phylogenetically diverse collection of 167 clinical isolates was analyzed, resulting in the comprehensive genetic survey of the prevalence of protease‐encoding genes. No correlation between identified gene patterns with specific infections was established. Humoral response against the proteases of interest was examined in the sera derived from human patients and from a model mouse infection. The analysis suggests that at least some, if not all, tested proteases are expressed and secreted during the course of infection. Overall, the results presented in this study support the hypothesis that the secretory proteases as a group may contribute to the virulence of S. aureus.

Community-Associated Staphylococcus aureus from Sub-Saharan Africa and Germany: A Cross-Sectional Geographic Correlation Study

“…aureus to evade host degradation 33 . The proteases are also considered of importance to virulence 34 , and splB was significantly more often detected in African isolates (while splE was predominant in German isolates). Among adhesion factors, significant differences were found for map , the gene conferring extracellular adherence protein (Eap) expression 35 and for the surface protein gene sasG .…”

Clustering of Staphylococcus aureus bovine mastitis strains from regions of Central-Eastern Poland based on their biochemical and genetic characteristics

“…Treatment of infected individuals is difficult due to frequent recurrences, as staphylococci can be found commonly in the natural environment and also on the skin of people tending the animals and in animals from the same herd (Malinowski andGajewski 2010, Peton andLe Loir 2013). The infection occurs after the mammary gland tissues are invaded by bacteria, triggering the action of various factors, especially proteases, enterotoxins and pyrogenic superantigens, such as the toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1), (Bukowski et al 2010, Zdzalik et al 2012. A set of identified virulence factors, and additionally slime production, in staphylococcal mastitis are reported (Pejsak andTarasiuk 1989, Krukowski et al 2008).…”

EepR Mediates Secreted-Protein Production, Desiccation Survival, and Proliferation in a Corneal Infection Model

“…ecreted enzymes such as proteases can act as immune system and physiology modulators and virulence factors during infection by a wide variety of pathogens (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Serratia marcescens is a Gram-negative coccobacillus bacterium isolated from a variety of environmental niches and the human gut.…”