Affiliation:
1. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Staphylococcus aureus
is clearly the most pathogenic member of the
Staphylococcaceae
. This is in large part due to the acquisition of an impressive arsenal of virulence factors that are coordinately regulated by a series of dedicated transcription factors. What is becoming more and more appreciated in the field is the influence of the metabolic state of
S. aureus
on the activity of these virulence regulators and their roles in modulating metabolic gene expression. Here I highlight recent advances in
S. aureus
metabolism as it pertains to virulence. Specifically, mechanisms of nutrient acquisition are outlined including carbohydrate and non-carbohydrate carbon/energy sources as well as micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Zn and S) acquisition. Additionally, energy producing strategies (respiration versus fermentation) are discussed and put in the context of pathogenesis. Finally, transcriptional regulators that coordinate metabolic gene expression are outlined, particularly those that affect the activities of major virulence factor regulators. This chapter essentially connects many recent observations that link the metabolism of
S. aureus
to its overall pathogenesis and hints that the mere presence of a plethora of virulence factors may not entirely explain the extraordinary pathogenic potential of
S. aureus
.
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Cell Biology,Microbiology (medical),Genetics,General Immunology and Microbiology,Ecology,Physiology
Cited by
34 articles.
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